Conflict

U.S. Forces in Somalia

Incident Code

USSOM246

Location

Near Jilib, Middle Juba, Somalia
Sections

Airwars Assessment

Last Updated: December 15, 2024

(Previous Incident Code: SOM167A)

The United States carried out a second airstrike near Jilib on September 3rd 2019, this time against an “al-Shabaab associated vehicle”, and with no known casualties.

Details were revealed by AFRICOM in an email exchange with the Bureau of Investigative Journalism on October 4th 2019: “Separately, AFRICOM conducted an air strike targeting al-Shabaab equipment in the vicinity of Jilib, Somalia on Sept. 3.

“At this time it is assessed that this airstrike struck one al-Shabaab associated vehicle. U.S. forces, in cooperation with the government of Somalia, are conducting ongoing counterterrorism operations to degrade the terrorist groups’ abilities to recruit, train, and plot terror attacks in Somalia and the region.”

No additional public details about this second event on September 3rd are presently known.

Key Information

Country
Military Actor
Strike Type
Airstrike
Strike Status
Declared strike
Civilian Harm Reported
No
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions

Military Statements

U.S. Forces Assessment
Known belligerent
U.S. Forces
U.S. Forces position on incident
Not yet assessed
U.S. Forces Strike Report
Email to Bureau of Investigative Journalism from AFRICOM, October 4th 2019: U.S. Africa Command has conducted fifty-four (54) airstrikes in 2019 against ISIS-Somalia and al-Shabaab militants, fighting positions, infrastructure, and equipment – nine (9) against ISIS-Somalia and 45 against al-Shabaab. In addition to the strikes you mentioned below, in coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia, AFRICOM conducted an airstrike targeting al-Shabaab equipment near Ugungi, Lower Shabelle, Somalia on Sept. 24. At this time it is assessed this airstrike struck one al-Shabaab associated vehicle. Separately, AFRICOM conducted an air strike targeting al-Shabaab equipment in the vicinity of Jilib, Somalia on Sept. 3. At this time it is assessed that this airstrike struck one al-Shabaab associated vehicle. U.S. forces, in cooperation with the government of Somalia, are conducting ongoing counterterrorism operations to degrade the terrorist groups’ abilities to recruit, train, and plot terror attacks in Somalia and the region.