Civilian Casualty Archive

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930 incidents

Incident Date

27 January 2020

Incident Code

USYEMTr220

Location

بن معيلي, Bin Ma'aili Station, Ma'rib, Yemen
A US drone strike reportedly targeted a car transporting six alleged AQAP militants near Bin Ma'ali Station, in Marib governorate, on the morning of January 27th 2020. The strike came alongside a second reported US action (USYEMTr219-C) on January 27th in Al Hazmia, also in Marib. There were no known associated reports of civilian harm.…

Summary

Published
27 January 2020
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
Military actors reported killed
2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

26 January 2020

Incident Code

USSOM271

Location

Near Jamaame, Lower Juba, Somalia
During several days of fighting in Middle Juba, US forces conducted an airstrike on January 26th which targeted "an al-Shabaab compound in the vicinity of Jamaame," according to US Africa Command officials. AFRICOM initially reported the event on February 3rd in a press release though offered no precise date, noting that "In coordination with the Federal…

Summary

Published
26 January 2020
Strike Type
Airstrike
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

25 January 2020

Incident Code

USYEMTr218

Location

جو النسيم, Joe Al Naseem, Ma'rib, Yemen
A US drone strike reportedly targeted a house in Joe Al Naseem, in the Wadi Obeida area of Marib governorate, at 11am on January 25th 2020, killing at least one alleged AQAP leadership figure. Some sources later indicated that AQAP leader Qasim al-Raymi died in the strike, one of three alleged January US actions in…

Summary

Published
25 January 2020
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
Military actors reported killed
1–2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

22 January 2020

Incident Code

USSOM270

Location

Sakow district, Middle Juba, Somalia
Local reports claimed that US airstrikes had targeted al Shabaab bases near Sakow in Middle Juba, in support of ground operations by Somali forces. AFRICOM itself did not publicly report any strikes on this date. Goobjoog News reported what it said were US strikes in support of Somali ground operations "around Sakow district, the airstrike…

Summary

Published
22 January 2020
Strike Type
Airstrike
Military actors reported killed
1–2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

22 January 2020

Incident Code

USSOM269

Location

between Jilib and Bu’aale, Middle Juba, Somalia
Local reports claimed that US airstrikes had targeted al Shabaab bases near Hargessa Yarey village in Middle Juba, in support of ground operations by Somali forces. AFRICOM itself did not publicly report any strikes on this date. According to Goobjoog News, "Airstrike operations targeting Al-Shabab militant launch by U.S Africom with Somalia forces in Middle…

Summary

Published
22 January 2020
Strike Type
Airstrike
Military actors reported killed
2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

20 January 2020

Incident Code

USYEMTr217

Location

Special Forces School Mosque, Ma'rib, Yemen
US drone strikes targeted what was described as the government 'Central Security' headquarters in Marib governorate, killing "terrorist" individuals, on the evening of January 20th 2020, according to a number of local language social media sources. Other sources also reported that a military base, the "third military zone", was targeted, with some assigning responsibility for…

Summary

Published
20 January 2020
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike), Airstrike and/or Artillery
Military actors reported killed
0–24
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

19 January 2020

Incident Code

USSOM268

Location

Near Bangeeni, Lower Juba, Somalia
A US airstrike was called in to support a Somali forces unit under attack from al Shabaab, AFRICOM reported the next day. According to the official press release, "In coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia, U.S. Africa Command conducted an airstrike against al-Shabaab terrorists who engaged Somali National Army Danab Unit near Bangeeni, Somalia,…

Summary

Published
19 January 2020
Strike Type
Airstrike
Military actors reported killed
3
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

16 January 2020

Incident Code

USSOM266

Location

حرمك, 25km north of Kunya Barrow, Lower Shabelle, Somalia
United States Africa Command declared its second airstrike of 2020, stating in a press release issued on the same day that it had killed two al Shabaab terrorists "in the vicinity of Qunyo Barrow." SONNA, the official Somali agency, gave slightly more information on the action, stating that said the attack had taken place on…

Summary

Published
16 January 2020
Strike Type
Airstrike
Military actors reported killed
2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

16 January 2020

Incident Code

USSOM267

Location

Wanlaweyn, Lower Shabelle, Somalia
Somali officials reported the death of a senior al Shabaab commander during a gun battle at Wanlaweyn. It was not clear whether US forces had also participated in the raid. According to the Horn Observer, "The special forces known as DANAB raided the house of Mohamed Osman Hussein Buluush, a mlitant bomb expert in the…

Summary

Published
16 January 2020
Strike Type
Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
Military actors reported killed
1–3
Causes of Death / Injury
Small arms and light weapons
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

7 January 2020

Incident Code

USSOM265

Location

Lafta Anole neighborhood, Lower Juba, Somalia
A Somali special forces military action backed by "international partners" killed 35 al Shabaab fighters in the vicinity of Lafta Anole neighborhood in Lower Juba, according to local and international media reports. Xinhua carried the most detailed report: "Hassan Mohamad Aden, commander of the Danab Forces in Jubbaland State, said a joint operation was conducted…

Summary

Published
7 January 2020
Strike Type
Airstrike, Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
Military actors reported killed
35
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

3 January 2020

Incident Code

CI879

Location

مطار بغداد الدولي‎, Baghdad International Aiport, Baghdad, Iraq
Possibly one civilian was killed and an unknown number of civilians injured in a confirmed U.S. airstrike that killed Iranian national Qassam Soleimani, the commander of the Quds Force, on Baghdad International Airport at January 3rd, 2020. The New York Times reported that an "American MQ-9 Reaper drone fired missiles into a convoy that was leaving…

Summary

Published
3 January 2020
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
Civilians reported killed
0–1
Civilians reported injured
2
Military actors reported killed
11–13
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition, U.S. Forces
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Incident Date

3 January 2020

Incident Code

USSOM264

Location

Between Bacaw and Bariire, Lower Shabelle, Somalia
In its first declared action in Somalia of 2020, AFRICOM announced on the same day that "in coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia, U.S. Africa Command conducted an airstrike against al-Shabaab terrorists who engaged Somali National Army partner forces on patrol near Bacaw." AFRICOM added that "At this time, it is assessed this precision…

Summary

Published
3 January 2020
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
Military actors reported killed
3
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

2–3 January, 2020

Incident Code

USYEMTr216

Location

الجراف/حدة, Al Jarf/Hadda, Sana'a, Yemen
A US drone strike reportedly targeted Abdul Reza Shahlai, an Iranian Revolutionary Guard and Qods Force commander in Sana'a, overnight from January 2nd-3rd 2020. While initial reports suggested that Shahlai had been killed in the strike, official sources later indicated that he had survived. There was some indication that another Iranian soldier was killed, however.…

Summary

Published
2 January 2020
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike), Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
Military actors reported killed
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

29 December 2019

Incident Code

USSOM261-C

Location

Vicinity of Kunyo Barrow, Somalia
In retaliatory actions against al Al Shabaab for a mass casualty bombing in Mogadishu a day earlier, the United States said that it had conducted three strikes against al Shbaab commanders, killing four people in total.This entry relates to one of two strikes in the vicinity of Kunyo Barrow in Lower Shabelle. Al Shabaab itself…

Summary

Published
29 December 2019
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
0–2
Military actors reported killed
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

29 December 2019

Incident Code

USSOM262

Location

Vicinity of Kunyo Barrow, Lower Shabelle, Somalia
In retaliatory strikes against al Al Shabaab for a mass casualty bombing in Mogadishu a day earlier, the United States said that it had conducted three strikes against al Shbaab commanders, killing four people in total. This entry relates to one of two strikes in the vicinity of Kunyo Barrow in Lower Shabelle. According to…

Summary

Published
29 December 2019
Strike Type
Airstrike
Military actors reported killed
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

28–29 December, 2019

Incident Code

USSOM263

Location

Vicinity of Caliyoow Barrow, Lower Shabelle, Somalia
In apparent retaliatory strikes against al Al Shabaab for a mass casualty bombing in Mogadishu a day earlier, the United States said that it had conducted three strikes against al Shbaab commanders, killing four people in total. This entry relates to one strike in the vicinity of Caliyoow Barrow in Lower Shabelle. it later emerged…

Summary

Published
28 December 2019
Strike Type
Airstrike
Military actors reported killed
2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

16 December 2019

Incident Code

USSOM260

Location

Dujuuma, Middle Juba, Somalia
Publicly declaring its 60th strike of the year, AFRICOM said that it had targeted and killed an alleged al Shabaab terrorist According to a press release issued on the same date, "In coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia, U.S. Africa Command conducted an airstrike targeting an al-Shabaab terrorist in the vicinity of Dujuuma, Somalia,…

Summary

Published
16 December 2019
Strike Type
Airstrike
Military actors reported killed
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

9 December 2019

Incident Code

USSOM259

Location

سااكوو, Saakow, Middle Juba, Somalia
The US military reported on the same day that it had carried out an airstrike against al Shabaab in the vicinity of Saakow that killed one terrorist. "In coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia, U.S. Africa Command conducted an airstrike targeting al-Shabaab terrorists in the vicinity of Saakow, Somalia, on Dec. 9," AFRICOM reported.…

Summary

Published
9 December 2019
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
Military actors reported killed
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

7 December 2019

Incident Code

USYEMTr215

Location

Arqoub, Abyan, Yemen
A few local-language Twitter sources suggested, on December 7th 2019, that US drone strikes had targeted "Muslim Brotherhood" militias, also described as "terrorists", in the mountains of Al Arqoub in Abyan governorate. No other known sources reported US strikes, and there was no known information on alleged casualties. The first known report of the strikes,…

Summary

Published
7 December 2019
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

30 November 2019

Incident Code

USSOM258

Location

جيليب, Jilib, Middle Juba, Somalia
The US military reported on the same day that it had carried out an airstrike in the vicinity of Jilib against al Shabaab fighters. It was not clear which of two locally reported targets - or indeed both - were struck. Unusually, AFRICOM made no mention of the number of militant fighters it believed had…

Summary

Published
30 November 2019
Strike Type
Airstrike
Military actors reported killed
0–4
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

19 November 2019

Incident Code

USSOM257-C

Location

حرمك, Kunya Barrow, Middle Juba, Somalia
The US military reported on the same day that it had carried out an airstrike near Qunyo Barrow that killed one "terrorist." However al Shabaab insisted the victim was a local civilian businessman named Ismail Issa Bhutan. AFRICOM later insisted the target "was both an al-Shabaab leader and weapons supplier." According to a press release…

Summary

Published
19 November 2019
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
Civilians reported killed
0–1
Military actors reported killed
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

12 November 2019

Incident Code

USSOM256

Location

جيليب, Jilib, Middle Juba, Somalia
In a press release issued on the same day, US Africa Command reported that it had targeted and killed a senior al Shabaab figure in the vicinity of Jilib, in Middle Juba. "At this time, it is assessed the airstrike killed one (1) terrorist. Strikes near Jilib disrupt al-Shabaab’s freedom of maneuver. The individual targeted…

Summary

Published
12 November 2019
Strike Type
Airstrike
Military actors reported killed
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

3 November 2019

Incident Code

USSOM254

Location

Bu'aale, Middle Juba, Somalia
Local media reported targeted strikes by an undeclared belligerent on the town of Bu'ale, which were said to have killed and injured senior named al Shabaab figures. According to Goobjoog News, "Reports indicate on the airstrike raid in Bay and Middle Juba region last night targeted Al Shabab base located in the area bulla falay…

Summary

Published
3 November 2019
Strike Type
Airstrike
Military actors reported killed
2–4
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

3 November 2019

Incident Code

USSOM255

Location

Jilib or between Jilib and Xaramka, Middle Juba, Somalia
A senior al Shabaab communications official was reported killed, either in an air or ground operation. The official was named by all sources as Ibrahim Abu Hamza, reportedly a head of communications for the terror group. However there was conflicted reporting about both how he died - and at whose hands. According to Mareeg News,…

Summary

Published
3 November 2019
Strike Type
Airstrike, Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
Military actors reported killed
2–4
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

1 November 2019

Incident Code

USYEMTr214-C

Location

ريدان بالقرب من جبل الكنائس, Raidan, in the vicinity of Jabal Al Kaneas, Ma'rib, Yemen
A US drone strike reportedly killed at least two alleged AQAP militants, including a leadership figure, in Raidan village, in the Al Kanaes area of Marib governorate, on November 1st 2019. One source, @AlkaramaHR, instead appeared to suggest that those killed were civilians, unaffiliated with AQAP. On January 2nd 2020, US Central Command told New…

Summary

Published
1 November 2019
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
2
Military actors reported killed
2–3
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

25 October 2019

Incident Code

USSOM252

Location

Jamaame, Lower Juba, Somalia
Local reports claimed that a pair of airstrikes by unknown international powers - presumably either the United States or Kenya - had targeted al Shabaab fighters in the towns of Jamaame and Buaale. According to Radio Kulmiye, "Another airstrikes were reported [on October 25th] from Middle Juba region, highly controlled by Al-Shabaab. Witnesses said that…

Summary

Published
25 October 2019
Strike Type
Airstrike
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

25 October 2019

Incident Code

USSOM253

Location

Bu'aale, Middle Juba, Somalia
Local reports claimed that a pair of airstrikes by unknown international powers – presumably either the United States or Kenya – had targeted al Shabaab fighters in the towns of Jamaame and Buaale. According to Radio Kulmiye, “Another airstrikes were reported [on October 25th] from Middle Jubba region, highly controlled by Al-Shabaab. Witnesses said that…

Summary

Published
25 October 2019
Strike Type
Airstrike
Military actors reported killed
2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

25 October 2019

Incident Code

USSOM251-C

Location

Near Ameyra and Timirshe, Noogal, Somalia
A US drone strike intended to target an Islamic State hideout near the remote Ameyra and Timirshe villages in the Golis Mountain region, killed two civilians and injured another, according to multiple local and international media sources. However in April 2020, AFRICOM insisted the targets "were ISIS-Somalia leadership and media operatives."" At the time of…

Summary

Published
25 October 2019
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
Civilians reported killed
2
Civilians reported injured
1
Military actors reported killed
3
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

18 October 2019

Incident Code

USSOM153-C

Location

Bulo Haji, Lower Juba, Somalia
In an alleged civilian harm event previously unrecorded by the Bureau of Investigative Journalism, a declassified AFRICOM report obtained in Spring 2019 identified a claimed event near Kismayo in October 2018. According to Casimada, "The strike against Al-Qaeda linked Al-Shabaab group was conducted in Bulo-Haji area near the town, killing at least 3 children, a…

Summary

Published
18 October 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
Civilians reported killed
3
Civilians reported injured
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

3 October 2019

Incident Code

USSOM250a-C

Location

Abaloni, in the vicinity of Hosingow, Lower Juba, Somalia
Two civilians were allegedly killed by a US or Kenyan airstrike on Abaloni. AFRICOM later denied conducting a strike in the area. Hussein Eliyow tweeted: "SOMALIA: Reports of US /Kenya airstrike in Abaloni village, outside Hosingow town last night. Residents say the airstrike killed at least two nomads. More details to follow." AFRICOM discounted the…

Summary

Published
3 October 2019
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident