Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

USSOM371-C

Incident date

January 30, 2023

Location

Between Fidow and Qura’ley, Middle Shabelle, Somalia

Geolocation

3.072410, 45.744700 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Additional Geolocations

3.269209, 45.698610 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least seven civilians, including three children, were killed by alleged US drone strikes between Fidow and Qura’ley villages on January 30, 2023.

Shabelle Media Network spoke with the deputy Mahas district commissioner who said that seven villagers, including children, were killed by a strike believed to have been carried out by the US. Residents in the Hiran region reported that the airstrikes took place “between Fidow and Qura’ley villages which lie on the Hiran-Middle Shabelle regions’ crossing border.”

Caasimada Online News provided the names of the civilians killed: 1- Ahmed Mohamed Noor, 20 years old, 2- Abdiqadar Mohamed Noor, 18 years old, 3- Qeys Mohamed Noor, 8 years old, 4- Umar Maham Abukar, 18 years old, 5- Abdullahi Mohamud Issa 6-Ahmed Khadar Ibrahim Osman, 13 years old, 7-Assir Hassan Abdi, 14 years old. Three of those killed were brothers.

Local people told Caasimada Online News that three of the youths were initially arrested by al-Shabaab, while the other four took them to a place for lunch.

All of the sources that reported on the incident attributed the strikes to the US, with the Somali Guardian specifying that the attack was carried out by drones.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Ahmed Mohamed Noor
20 years old male killed
Abdiqadar Mohamed Noor
18 years old male killed
Qeys Mohamed Noor
8 years old male killed

The victims were named as:

Umar Maham Abukar
18 years old killed
Abdullahi Mohamud Issa
Age unknown killed
Ahmed Khadar Ibrahim Osman
13 years old killed
Assir Hassan Abdi
14 years old killed

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the villages of Fidow and Qura’ley. The generic coordinates for Fidow are: 3.072410, 45.744700. The generic coordinates for Qura’ley are: 3.269209, 45.698610. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7
  • (3 children)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected belligerent
    US Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al-Shabaab

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Bodies of the civilians allegedly killed by US airstrikes between Fidow and Qura’ley villages on January 30, 2022. (Image posted by Caasimada Online News)
  • Bodies of the civilians allegedly killed by US airstrikes between Fidow and Qura’ley villages on January 30, 2022. (Image posted by Caasimada Online News)

US Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US Forces
  • US Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7
  • (3 children)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected belligerent
    US Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al-Shabaab

Sources (3) [ collapse]