Civilian Casualties

0 – 5

(0–5 men)

Al-Shabaab

10–25

Between Araare crossing and Muse Haji, near Baar Sanguni, Lower Juba, Somalia

LOCATION

Up to 73 al Shabaab fighters were killed in a confirmed retaliatory strike conducted by US Africa Command. On the same day as the attack, AFRICOM reported that it had “conducted an airstrike targeting militants near Jilib, Middle Juba Region, Somalia, on January 19, 2019.” The airstrike was apparently conducted after a large contingent of

Summary

Airstrike, Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)

Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Unknown

52–73

Yaaq Braawe, Bay, Somalia

LOCATION

US Africa Command reported that the previous day, it had conducted “one (1) airstrike targeting an al-Shabaab encampment in the vicinity of Yaaq Braawe, Bay Region, Somalia, on January 8, 2019.” It added: “At this time we assess no civilians were injured or killed in this airstrike.” AFRICOM also stated that the airstrike “killed six

Summary

Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Unknown

Baqdaad, Lower Juba, Somalia

LOCATION

US Africa Command reported that the day previously, it had “conducted two airstrikes targeting al-Shabaab militants in the vicinity of Baqdaad, Somalia, on January 7, 2019.” AFRICOM stated that “At this time we assess no civilians were injured or killed in these airstrikes.” According to AFRICOM “four militants” were killed in the strikes. AFRICOM added

AFRICOM reported on the same day that it had carried out an airstrike targeting al Shabaab in the vicinity of Dheerow Sanle in the Lower Shabelle region of Somalia. According to AFRICOM “no civilians were injured or killed in this airstrike.” The strike “killed six (6) militants and destroyed one vehicle.” In a subsequent FOIA response

Summary

Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Unknown

ال ديمان, Al Dayman, Ma'rib, Yemen

LOCATION

A single source, Voice of America News, stated that a US airstrike had targeted AQAP militants in Al Dayman on January 4th 2019, according to a US defense official. There were no other known reports of a strike at that time, and no information was given on alleged casualties. In a later press release, US

Summary

Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)

Deerow Sanle, Bay, Somalia

LOCATION

AFRICOM reported the day previously it had conducted “one airstrike targeting al-Shabaab militants in the vicinity of Dheerow Sanle, Somalia, on January 2, 2019.” It added: “At this time we assess no civilians were injured or killed in this airstrike.” However, AFRICOM stated that “10 militants” were killed in this event. Voice of America reporter Harun

Summary

9–10

وادي عبيدة, Wadi Obeida, Ma'rib, Yemen

LOCATION

Jamal Al-Badawi, an alleged ‘legacy’ AQAP militant, was killed by a US drone strike in Marib governorate on the morning of January 1st 2019, US Central Command stated, confirming earlier reports that he had been targeted by a strike in Wadi Obeidah, Marib. One civilian was locally reported injured in the attack – and the

Summary

Airstrike, Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground), Drone Strike

Civilians reported injured

0 – 1

(0–1 men)

Known belligerent

Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)

Known target

Named victims

2 named

1–7

جيليب, Jilib, Middle Juba, Somalia

CENTCOM for January 1, 2018 – December 31, 2018

Original

Annotated

Report Date

December 31, 2018

Original Report

Web link

Jan. 7, 2019

Release Number 20190107-01

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CENTCOM counterterrorism strikes in Yemen 2018 rollup

TAMPA, Fla. – U.S. Central Command conducted 36 total air strikes in Yemen in 2018, targeting al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula and ISIS-Yemen.

CENTCOM conducted 10 air strikes in January targeting both AQAP and ISIS-Yemen, six air strikes against AQAP in February, seven air strikes against AQAP in March and four airstrikes against AQAP in April.

CENTCOM conducted two air strikes in May, two air strikes in June, two air strikes in July, one air strike in August, and two air strikes in September, all targeting AQAP terrorists.

No strikes were conducted in Yemen in October, November, and December.

The air strikes took place in Abyan, al Bayda, Hadramawt, Shabwah and Zamakh governorates.

LOCATION

A joint action by Somali troops and US Special Forces killed 30 al Shabaab militants including two foreign fighters, in the town of Jilib, according to a Somali National Army commander. Xinhua reported the following: “The Somali National Army (SNA) on Sunday killed 30 al-Shabab militants, including two foreign nationals, in the southern town of

Summary

Airstrike, Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)

Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons

Known belligerent

Somali Military Forces

Al-Shabaab

Beled Amin South, Lower Shabelle, Somalia

LOCATION

A total of 11 al Shabaab militants were killed as US forces conducted two airstrikes in the vicinity of Beled Amin South on December 19th, a US Africa Command press release claimed. According to AFRICOM, no civilians were harmed. The first strike referenced here killed eight militants and the second strike killed three militants, the

Summary

Beled Amin South, Lower Shabelle, Somalia

LOCATION

A total of 11 al Shabaab militants were killed as US forces conducted two airstrikes in the vicinity of Beled Amin South on December 19th, a US Africa Command press release claimed. According to AFRICOM, no civilians were harmed. The strike referenced here killed three militants and the second strike killed eight militants, the US

Summary

LOCATION

AFRICOM publicly reported two strikes on the same area on the same day – asserting that it had killed 28 al Shabaab militants in total in the vicinity of Gandarshe. Another four strikes took place at the same location the previous day on December 15th, it said – killing another 34 militants. “All six airstrikes

Summary

LOCATION

Summary

غندرشي, Mountainous area near Gandarshe, Lower Shabelle, Somalia

LOCATION

AFRICOM publicly reported the first of four strikes on the same area on the same day – asserting that it had killed eight al Shabaab militants in the vicinity of Gandarshe. The tweet was issued shortly after noon GMT, indicating that the attack was earlier that morning. Two days later AFRICOM revealed that it had

Summary

LOCATION

AFRICOM publicly reported four strikes on the same area on the same day – asserting that it had killed 34 al Shabaab militants in total in the vicinity of Gandarshe. Another two strikes took place on December 16th, it said – killing another 28 militants. “All six airstrikes were conducted in close coordination with the

Summary

LOCATION

Summary

LOCATION

Summary

Baladul Rahma, Lower Shabelle, Somalia

LOCATION

One civilian was reportedly killed and another injured in a confirmed US airstrike in Baladul Rahma near Basra, Somalia according to a field investigation by Amnesty International – though US Africa Command continues to deny that any civilians were harmed. In a press release from AFRICOM issued at the time, it had said it carried

Summary

Airstrike, Drone Strike

Civilians reported injured

(1 man)

1–2

3–4

Awdheegle, Lower Shabelle, Somalia

LOCATION

Four al Shabaab fighters were reported killed as the US carried out what it said was a self-defence strike in the vicinity of Awdheegle, Lower Shabelle, after US and partner forces came under attack, US Africa Command said in a statement. Associated Press gave a detailed report on the event: “Somali commandos backed by U.S.

Summary

Geelway mountain, Mudug, Somalia

LOCATION

AFRICOM reported that the previous day, it had “conducted an airstrike targeting al-Shabaab militants near Lebede, Somalia on November 30, 2018”. It said that there had been no civilian harm. However, AFRICOM claimed that the airstrike had killed “nine (9) militants”. Voice of America reporter Harun Maruf provided a more detailed location. “Statement says strike

Summary

العوينات, Al Uwaynat, Ghat, Libya

LOCATION

Eleven civilians were reported killed as a result of a US airstrike near Al Uwaynat. The event marks the biggest single allegation of civilian harm against the United States in Libya so far. Initial reports had indicated that the US had targeted Al Qaeda members with a precision strike near the town in the south

Summary

0 – 11

(11 men)

Debatscile, Mudug, Somalia

LOCATION

AFRICOM reported that the previous day it had “conducted an airstrike targeting al-Shabaab militants in the vicinity of Quy Cad near Debatscile, Somalia on November 27, 2018”. It added: “We currently assess this airstrike did not injure or kill any civilians.” However, AFRICOM claimed that the airstrike had “killed three (3) militants”. It added “This follows

Summary

هرجيسا, Hargeysa Yarey, Middle Juba, Somalia

LOCATION

A strike was said to have killed 15 members of al Shabaab and injured another 30, according to the official Somali National News Agency (SONNA). It was not clear whether US forces carried out the strike from the reporting, but US Africa Command said US forces had not carried out a strike on that day.

Summary

Al-Shabaab

ذي كالب, Dhi Kalb, Al Bayda, Yemen

LOCATION

At least five alleged AQAP militants, including at least one leadership figure, were reportedly killed by a US drone strike in Dhi Kalb, in the Quraishiah area of Bayda governorate, overnight from November 24th-25th 2018. There were no known associated reports of civilian harm. Most sources reported that six militants had been killed, though differed

Summary

Airstrike, Drone Strike

Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)

5–8

Either Jimo-Luqunyar or Adaley, near Debatscile, Mudug, Somalia

LOCATION

AFRICOM reported that the previous day it had “conducted two (2) airstrikes in the vicinity of Haradere, Somalia on November 21, 2018.” It added: “We currently assess these airstrikes did not injure or kill any civilians.” This assessment details the strike on the arms cache. Associated Press offered more detail on the attacks: “Somali intelligence

Summary

Jimo Luqunyar or Adaley, near Debatscile, Mudug, Somalia

LOCATION

AFRICOM reported that the previous day it had “conducted two (2) airstrikes in the vicinity of Haradere, Somalia on November 21, 2018.” It added: “We currently assess these airstrikes did not injure or kill any civilians.” However, AFRICOM claimed that “the first airstrike killed six (6) al-Shabaab militants and the second airstrike destroyed a weapons cache.”

Summary

LOCATION

Caad, Mudug, Somalia

AFRICOM reported the following day that it had “conducted an airstrike targeting al-Shabaab militants in the vicinity of Quy Cad, Somalia on November 20, 2018.” It added: “We currently assess this airstrike did not injure or kill any civilians.” However, AFRICOM claimed that the airstrike “killed seven (7) militants”. In a subsequent FOIA response obtained by

Summary