Civilian Casualties

0–2

Qoryoley near Janaale, Lower Shabelle, Somalia

LOCATION

An adult woman was reported killed by an alleged US attack on Qoryole, according to the Turkish news organisation TRT – an event it dated to before midnight on February 23rd 2019. Despite conducting four strikes in the near region that day. AFRICOM later insisted that “no U.S. military strike took place at the alleged

Summary

(1 woman)

المنطقة العسكرية الأولى ,سيئون, The First Military Zone, Seiyun, Hadramaut, Yemen

LOCATION

Two local-language sources suggested that at least one US drone strike had taken place in Hadramout governorate on February 20th 2019. There were no known associated reports of civilian harm. Security sources told Aden 24 that a US drone flew low over the “first military zone in Sayyoun Hadramout”, and attempted to target two “terrorist

Summary

Tuwaareey, Lower Shabelle, Somalia

LOCATION

US Africa Command initially reported that it had carried out two airstrikes in the vicinity of Janaale in the lower Shabelle region. AFRICOM stated that “the first airstrike on February 11 had killed eight militants and the second airstrike killed four militants” with a total of 12 killed. AFRICOM added that “at this time, it

Summary

(0–2 children2 women1 man)

10 – 13

Civilians reported injured

0–1

Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons, Unknown

6 named, 1 familiy identified

4–12

Janaale, Lower Shabelle, Somalia

LOCATION

A joint night time operation at Janaale by Somali National Armed Forces and AFRICOM – including the reported landing of US forces – led to a number of al Shabaab casualties and possible damage to civilian homes. Although AFRICOM did not confirm the incident at the time, a later FOIA response did confirm the action.

Summary

Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons

Road between Araare and Kobon, Lower Juba, Somalia

LOCATION

US Africa Command reported that the previous day, it had carried an airstrike in the vicinity of Kobon, near the city of Kismayo. AFRICOM added that “at this time, it was assessed no civilians were injured or killed in either airstrike.” AFRICOM did not specify the number of belligerents killed, although AP reported that eight

Summary

8–32

Bariire, Lower Shabelle, Somalia

LOCATION

US Africa Command reported that it had carried out an airstrike on the previous day “in the vicinity of Bariire, Lower Shebelle Region, Somalia, on February 7, 2019.” According to the official statement, “This precision airstrike was executed after our Somali partners were engaged by al-Shabaab militants as they conducted an operation to disrupt al-Shabaab

Summary

غندرشي, Gandarshe, Lower Shabelle, Somalia

LOCATION

US Africa Command reported that two days previously, it had carried out an airstrike “in the vicinity of Gandarshe, Lower Shebelle Region, Somalia, on February 6, 2019.” AFRICOM reported that it “currently assesses the airstrike on February 6 killed 11 militants.” It added that “at this time, it was assessed no civilians were injured or

Summary

ليغو, Leego, Bay, Somalia

LOCATION

US Africa Command reported on the same day that it had “conducted an airstrike in the vicinity of Leego, Bay Region, Somalia, on February 5, 2019.” According to AFRICOM this was the second airstrike it undertook over a 48 hour period, the first occurring on February 3rd in Gandarshe, Lower Shebelle Region. AFRICOM added that

Summary

غندرشي, Gandarshe, Lower Shabelle, Somalia

LOCATION

US Africa Command reported that it had conducted an airstrike “in the vicinity of Gandarshe, Lower Shebelle Region, Somalia, on February 3, 2019”. AFRICOM added that “at this time, it was assessed no civilians were injured or killed in either airstrike.” It did not specify whether any belligerent forces had been killed or injured. According to

Summary

1–5

Forsooley, Lower Shabelle, Somalia

LOCATION

A reported tweet from Somalia’s National Intelligence and Security Agency – apparently since deleted – referred to a joint raid on February 2nd by Somali and US forces which was said to have killed 40 al Shabaab fighters. Goobjoog News, which picked up on the original tweet, said that “The National Intelligence and Security Agency

Summary

Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)

Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons

Suspected belligerents

US Forces, Kenyan Military Forces

Somali Military Forces

Al-Shabaab

غندرشي, Gandarshe, Lower Shabelle, Somalia

LOCATION

AFRICOM reported that the previous day it had “conducted an airstrike targeting al-Shabaab fighters in the vicinity of Gandarshe, Lower Shebelle Region, Somalia, on February 1, 2019.” It added that “at this time, it was assessed no civilians were injured or killed in this airstrike.” However, AFRICOM claimed that the strike had “killed 13 militants.” According

Summary

IVO Janay Abdalle, Lower Juba, Somalia

LOCATION

An unspecified number was allegedly killed by a US strike on Janay Abdalle, which AFRICOM later discounted. In first quarterly civilian casualty assessment it says: “February 3, 2019, AFRICOM received one allegation from an online media source claiming an unspecified number of civilians were killed from an airstrike in the vicinity of Janay Abdalle, Somalia,

Summary

2 – 3

Shebeeley, Hiiraan, Somalia

LOCATION

US Africa Command reported that the previous day it had “conducted an airstrike near a terrorist encampment location in the vicinity of Shebeeley, Hiran Region, Somalia, on January 30, 2019.” It added: “no civilians were injured or killed in this airstrike.” However, AFRICOM claimed that the airstrike “killed twenty-four militants.” This contrasted with AFRICOM claims just

Summary

جيليب, Jilib, Middle Juba, Somalia

LOCATION

AFRICOM reported that the previous day it had “conducted two (2) airstrikes targeting al-Shabaab militants near Jilib, Middle Juba Region, Somalia, on January 23, 2019.” It also asserted that “at this time we assess no civilians were injured or killed in these airstrikes.” AFRICOM gave no figures on the number of belligerents killed. Associated Press

One civilian, named as the elderly man Saleh Ahmed Mohammed al-Qaisi, was killed by a US drone strike in the vicinity of Ja’ar, in the Al Qayseen subdistrict, Sama’a district of Bayda governorate, at 10am on January 21st 2019. In April 2021, CENTCOM confirmed to the Yemen human rights group Mwatana that it had killed

Summary

(1 man)

Known target

Named victims

1 named

الجرشة, Al Jarsha, Ma'rib, Yemen

LOCATION

A US drone raid, involving two airstrikes, reportedly killed two alleged AQAP militants in Al Jarsha, in the Juba district of Marib governorate, late on January 21st 2019, according to some local sources. There were no known associated reports of civilian harm. One source, Shafah, named one of those killed as Ali Nasser Al-Faqir, “the

Summary

Radio Andalus, Jilib, Middle Juba, Somalia

LOCATION

A reported airstrike or bomb blast by an unknown party on an al Shabaab radio station in Buale or Jilib town killed up to 25 al Shabaab supporters – five of them journalists. US Africa Command later denied responsibility. According to Sonna Somalia, “At least 10 people have been killed and more than 30 others

Summary

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

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

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

Summary

Baqdaad, Lower Juba, Somalia

LOCATION

Summary

Vicinity of Deerow Sanle, Bay, Somalia

LOCATION

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

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

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 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

Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons

Somali Military Forces

Al-Shabaab