Civilian Casualties

50 km northwest of Kismayo, Lower Juba, Somalia

LOCATION

US forces carried out a ‘self-defence strike’ against al Shabaab on September 21st approximately 50 km northwest of Kismayo and killing 18 al Shabaab members, according to a press release from US Africa Command. According to AFRICOM “The U.S. airstrike was conducted against militants after U.S. and partner forces came under attack. We currently assess

Summary

Airstrike, Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)

Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons

Causes of injury / death

18–20

سااكوو, Saakow, Middle Juba, Somalia

LOCATION

At least three children were killed as up to 12 al Shabaab members were targeted and killed by a night time airstrike, local and international media reported – though it was unclear who was behind the attack. Several senior al Shabaab officials were killed or wounded in an airstrike, Somalia intelligence officials reportedly said. The

Summary

Civilian infrastructure

School

(3 children)

US Forces, Kenyan Military Forces, Ethiopian Military Forces

Suspected belligerents

العشار, Al Ashar, Al Bayda, Yemen

LOCATION

Two Yemeni National Army soldiers, including a Colonel, were reportedly killed by a US drone strike in Al Ashar, Yakla area of Bayda governorate, on the evening of September 18th 2018, according to multiple sources. Some however instead variously indicated that the strike killed two AQAP members, or two civilians. In a later press release,

Summary

1 – 2

(1–2 men)

مبارك, Mubaraak, Lower Shabelle, Somalia

CENTCOM for September 9, 2018 – September 18, 2018

Original

Annotated

Report Date

September 18, 2018

Original Report

Web link

Nov. 6, 2018

Release Number 20181106-01

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CENTCOM updates counterterrorism strikes in Yemen

TAMPA, Fla. – U.S. Central Command conducted two counterterrorism air strikes targeting al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula in Yemen in September, bringing the total number of air strikes to 36. In October, there were zero air strikes.

September strikes include Sept. 9 in Abyan and Sept. 18 in Al-Bayda governorates.

“Despite a decline in counterterrorism air strikes against AQAP, they continue to pose a significant threat,” said Lt. Col. Earl Brown, a USCENTCOM spokesman. “We remain vigilant and will continue to work by, with and through our regional partners to disrupt, deter and destroy AQAP.”

LOCATION

In a US strike in Mubaraak, two al Shabaab militants were killed along with a combatant with US partner forces, a US statement asserted the following day. Members of al Shabaab and the partner forces were also left wounded. US forces carried out a strike during a Somali partner forces-led operation against al Shabaab in

Summary

Airstrike, Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)

وادي المرون, Wadi Al Maroun, Abyan, Yemen

LOCATION

Four alleged AQAP militants, including a leadership figure, were reportedly killed by a US drone strike against a car in Wadi Al Maroun, in the Khabr, Al Maraqisha area of Abyan governorate, on the morning of September 9th 2018. A US strike against AQAP in Abyan on that date was confirmed in a later US

Summary

40 km southwest of Mogadishu, Lower Shabelle, Somalia

LOCATION

US forces carried out a strike on August 27th killing three alleged members of al Shabaab, US Africa Command declared two days later, The strike hit approximately 40 kilometers southwest of Mogadishu. The official statement read: “In coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia, U.S. forces conducted an airstrike targeting al-Shabaab militants approximately 40 kilometers

Summary

46 km northeast of Kismayo, Lower Juba, Somalia

LOCATION

US forces carried out a strike on August 21st, killing two al Shabaab fighters, according to a press release from US Africa Command. The strike hit approximately 46 kilometers northeast of Kismayo, a port city in southern Somalia. The Command said it had assessed that no civilians were killed or injured in this strike. US

Summary

Basra, Lower Shabelle, Somalia

LOCATION

An investigation by journalist Amanda Sperber identified a possible US airstrike near Basra around the time of Eid in August 2018, which allegedly killed between 10 and 12 members of the same family. Airwars has provided a relatively wide date range for this event, based on limited reporting. The investigation, published by The Nation in

Summary

Civilians reported injured

10 – 12

(1 man)

0–2

12 named, 1 familiy identified

LOCATION

البيضاء, Al Bayda, Yemen

A US airstrike targeted AQAP in Bayda governorate on August 14th, according to CNN National Security reporter Ryan Browne (@rabrowne75). On August 30th, US Central Command stated that “six counterterrorism air strikes” against AQAP had been conducted since May 16th 2018, in “Shabwah, Hadramawt and Al-Bayda governorates”. The declared strike dates included August 14th. There

Summary

Vicinity of Baladul-Rahma and Geeshaan, near Basraa, Lower Shabelle, Somalia

LOCATION

In a major Amnesty International report on civilian harm in Somalia, published in March 2019, the NGO made passing reference to a civilian harm event on August 14th the previous year in the vicinity of Baladul-Rahma and Geeshaan, near Basraa. According to the report, “on 14 August 2018, the US military conducted additional air strikes

Summary

Leego, Lower Shabelle, Somalia

CENTCOM for May 25, 2018 – August 14, 2018

Original

Annotated

Report Date

August 14, 2018

Original Report

Web link

Aug. 30, 2018

Release Number 20180830-02

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TAMPA, Fla. –U.S. Central Command has conducted six counterterrorism air strikes targeting al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula terrorist network in Yemen in three separate governorates since May 16, bringing the total number of air strikes to 34.

These include air strikes May 25, two airstrikes June 23 and 30, two airstrikes July 22 and 24, and one Aug. 14. These air strikes took place in Shabwah, Hadramawt and Al-Bayda governorates.

A recent United Nations report assessed AQAP leaders recognize Yemen as a hub for external operations.

“AQAP has taken advantage of the conflicts in Yemen, to plot, direct and encourage terror attacks abroad,” said Lt. Col. Earl Brown, a USCENTCOM spokesman. “We will not relent on our pursuit of AQAP terrorists as they remain a significant threat to regional security and stability, and the safety of Americans at home and abroad.”

LOCATION

Local reporters alleged that US and Somali forces had killed four civilians including a mother and child, during an operation in Leego. Caasimada alleged that the civilians were killed around midnight, by Somali troops accompanied by ‘white US officers’, and claimed that the attacking forces had flown there from a military base to the north.

Summary

Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)

(1 child1 woman)

Small arms and light weapons

Somali Military Forces

3–4

Gobanle (Gobaale), Lower Shabelle, Somalia

LOCATION

Three civilians were reportedly killed in a US strike in Gobanle village, according to Amnesty International – though US Africa Command claimed that only four “terrorists” were killed. However an AFRICOM declassified assessment of the event published in July 2019 indicated that the US itself was unaware of the identities of those in the vehicle

Summary

(3 men)

1–4

الروضة, Al Rawda, Ma'rib, Yemen

LOCATION

A US drone strike reportedly targeted a house in the Al Rawda area of Marib governorate on August 1st 2018, killing four and wounding others. One source, The Yemen, indicating that those killed were civilians: “Today, Wednesday, local sources said that four civilians were killed and others wounded, following a US air strike on a

Summary

Civilians reported injured

LOCATION

حضرموت, Hadramaut, Yemen

A US airstrike targeted AQAP in Hadhramout governorate on July 24th 2018, according to US Central Command. There were no known associated reports of a strike in Hadhramout on that day. The Bureau of Investigative Journalism noted in its original summary of this event that “US Central Command said it conducted strikes on July 22

Summary

Baar Sanguni, 50 km north of Kismayo, Lower Juba, Somalia

LOCATION

US forces carried out a strike against al Shabaab in an area around 50 kilometres north of Kismayo, a US Africa Command spokesperson later told the Bureau of Investigative Journalism. Post-strike analysis had not revealed the number of militants killed, a US spokesperson told the Bureau in an email exchange on July 31st. The event

Summary

Qalimow, Middle Shabelle, Somalia

LOCATION

Unknown aircraft were reported to have struck the vicinity of Qalimow village about 60km north of Mogadishu on the night of July 24th-25th. Villagers told local media that several missiles had targeted Al-Shabab vehicles. The attack – which almost all sources said was by drone – followed the recent recapture of Qalimow from Somalia forces.

Summary

0–1

Marka, Lower Shabelle, Somalia

LOCATION

A strike reportedly hit a village outside Marka, a city around 60 miles south of Mogadishu, according to a field investigation by a reporter for The Nation. There were no reports of immediate civilian harm, though a man reportedly died of a heart attack following the violence. Airwars has placed this event in a date

Summary

(1 man)

Causes of injury / death

LOCATION

حضرموت, Hadramaut, Yemen

A US airstrike targeted AQAP in Hadhramout governorate on July 22nd 2018, according to US Central Command. There are no known public reports of a strike in Hadhramout on this date, though multiple sources indicated that there was a US drone strike in Marib (USYEMTr174-C) that killed at least three AQAP fighters. The Bureau of

Summary

الروضة, Al Rawda, Ma'rib, Yemen

LOCATION

At least three alleged AQAP militants were reportedly killed, and another injured, by a US drone strike against a house in Al Rawda, Marib governorate, on the evening of July 22nd 2018. A few social media sources at the time suggested that the strike had instead killed civilians. A later US Central Command statement indicated

Summary

Civilians reported injured

3–10

Jawaari, Middle Juba, Somalia

LOCATION

An airstrike near the village of Jawaari was variously blamed on US and Kenyan forces. Mareeg, a Somali news outlet, reported a strike by unidentified jets which it said had potentially killed eight members of al Shabaab. The terror group itself reportedly denied that any of its fighters were killed. The source of Mareeg’s information

Summary

US Forces, Kenyan Military Forces

Suspected belligerents

8–13

بيحان, Baihan, Shabwa, Yemen

LOCATION

Up to seven alleged AQAP militants were reportedly killed by a US drone strike in the Baihan district of Shabwa governorate, on July 6th 2018. There were no known associated reports of civilian harm. A security official told AFP that a US drone had targeted a car driving along a side road in the area,

Summary

5–7

مرخة, Merkhat districts, Shabwa, Yemen

LOCATION

A single source, Al-Masdar Online, suggested that a US drone strike had targeted alleged AQAP militants in Merkhat, in Shabwa governorate, on the evening of July 4th 2018. There were no known associated reports of civilian harm. “The source told Al-Masdar Online that the air strike targeted the militants in the Merkhat area last Wednesday

Summary

البيضاء, شبوه, حضرموت, Hadramawt, Yemen

LOCATION

A US airstrike targeted AQAP in either Shabwah, Hadramawt or Al-Bayda governorate on June 30th 2018, according to CENTCOM. There were no known public reports of a strike on that date. According to the Yemen monitor New America: “On July 3rd, CENTCOM confirmed in an email to New America that it conducted two air strikes

Summary

بئر شودقة, Bi'ir Shoudqa, Ma'rib, Yemen

LOCATION

A US drone strike targeted alleged AQAP militants in Bi’ir Shoudqa, Wadi Obeida area of Marib governorate, on June 28th 2018, a single source (@huodhoud) claimed. At around the same time, Yemeni sources began reporting that an alleged AQAP jurist, Abu Bihr Mohammed Darama, was killed by a US drone strike. It is unlikely Darama’s

Summary

البيضاء, شبوه, حضرموت, Hadramawt, Yemen

LOCATION

A US strike targeted AQAP in either Shabwah, Hadramawt or Al Bayda governorate on June 23rd 2018, according to CENTCOM. There are no known public reports of a US action on June 23rd. As Yemen monitor New America first noted: “On July 3rd, CENTCOM confirmed in an email to New America that it conducted two

Summary

Baar, Lower Juba, Somalia

LOCATION

An American Special Forces soldier was killed – later named as Staff Sergeant Alexander Conrad – and four others were wounded in an attack by al Shabaab fighters in Jubaland. A member of a partner force was also killed or injured. The US soldiers were among a large force of 800 Somali and Kenyan soldiers

Summary

Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)

Small arms and light weapons

1–3