Civilian Casualties

5–6

Farah Waeys, Lower Shabelle, Somalia

LOCATION

A US drone strike near Bariire on October 16th was confirmed by the US military. However, numerous allegations of civilian harm by international media have been denied. Whilst US Africa Command did not initially publish a press release regarding this strike, they confirmed to the Bureau of Investigative Journalism at the time that they carried

Summary

Civilians reported injured

(2 men)

5–8

2–5

العبل, Al Abil, Al Bayda, Yemen

LOCATION

More than fifty ISIS militants were killed in the course of US airstrikes on two ISIS training camps in Qayfa area, Al Bayda governorate, on October 16th 2017, according to a US Central Command statement released on December 20th 2017. At the time of the attacks, CENTCOM had reported killing “dozens” of ISIS fighters. There

Summary

يكلا‎, Yakla, Al Bayda, Yemen

LOCATION

More than fifty ISIS militants were reported killed in the course of US airstrikes on two ISIS training camps in Wald Rabi area, Bayda governorate, on October 16th 2017, according to a US Central Command statement released on December 20th 2017. At the time, the US had reported killing “dozens” of ISIS fighters. According to

Summary

سعود, Saud archaeological area, Ma'rib, Yemen

CENTCOM for October 16, 2017 – October 16, 2017

Original

Annotated

Report Date

October 16, 2017

Original Report

Web link

Press Operations

Release No: NR-352-17
Oct. 16, 2017

U.S. forces killed dozens of ISIS members in a strike on two ISIS training camps, Oct. 16, in Al Bayda Governorate, Yemen, disrupting the organization’s attempts to train new fighters.

ISIS used the camps to train militants to conduct terror attacks using AK-47s, machine guns, rocket-propelled grenade launchers and endurance training.

ISIS has used the ungoverned spaces of Yemen to plot, direct, instigate, resource and recruit for attacks against America and its allies around the world. For years, Yemen has been a hub for terrorist recruiting, training and transit.

In coordination with the government of Yemen, U.S. forces are supporting ongoing counterterrorism operations in Yemen against ISIS and AQAP to degrade the groups’ ability to coordinate external terror attacks and limit their ability to hold territory seized from the legitimate government of Yemen.

Strikes against ISIS targets disrupt and destroy militants’ attack-plotting efforts, leadership networks, and freedom of maneuver within the region

LOCATION

A US drone strike reportedly killed at least four alleged AQAP militants in Raghwan district, Marib governorate, on October 8th 2017. The strike was later confirmed by a US Central Command spokesperson in an email to the Bureau of Investigative Journalism, which stated that five AQAP militants were killed by a strike in the area

Summary

4–5

Airstrike and/or Artillery

LOCATION

Yakla, Al Bayda, Yemen

A US drone strike reportedly killed two alleged AQAP militants, including AQAP leader Shroum al-Sanaani, in Yakla, in the Radaa area of Bayda governorate, on the evening of October 4th 2017. There were no known associated reports of civilian harm. In a later email to the Bureau of Investigative Journalism, a US Central Command spokesperson

Summary

مبارك, Mubaraak, Lower Shabelle, Somalia

LOCATION

On November 17th 2017, US Africa Command sent the Bureau of Investigative Journalism a list of previously unreported strikes, which included this one. An AFRICOM spokesperson explained that their goal “is to be as transparent as possible while taking into account operational security, force protection and diplomatic sensitivities.” It therefore did not proactively release information

New tack for presenting data on Yemen and Somalia

Published

September 25, 2017

Written by

Jack Serle and Jessica Purkiss

Web link

This page is archived from original Bureau of Investigative Journalism reporting on US military actions in Yemen, Somalia, Pakistan and Afghanistan.

The Bureau has decided to change how it presents its data on Yemen and Somalia to make our datasets more user-friendly.

Our database records all reported US counter-terrorism operations in the two countries, dating back to November 2001 in Yemen and January 2007 in Somalia.

Many of these were reported as drone strikes, whilst others are more ambiguously described merely as “strikes”. The US has also carried out several ground raids with special forces and at least two attacks with cruise missiles. In Somalia, a US gunboat also bombarded al Shabaab fighters on the shoreline.

We had been pulling all air strikes reported to have been carried out by drones into their own year-by-year summaries in the datasets for the two countries. All other strikes would then fall into the category of “other US operations”.

However, events this year have made it evident that our method could be tweaked to give a clearer picture of the air war in these countries.

For example, during the massive US bombardment in Yemen in March and April, the US announced how many strikes it had carried out, but did not specify whether they had used a drone in most of these cases. This means that 95 per cent of the strikes were presented as operations in our year-by-year summaries, giving the casual viewer the impression we had omitted them from our tally entirely.

Because of this, we have decided to re-organise how we aggregate the individual strike figures. We are now pulling all air strikes, including those reported to have been carried out by a drone, into the same tally.

We have also added another year-by-year summary into the Somalia dataset, which pulls in all possible strikes. Prior to this, we had a single summary which included confirmed strikes as the minimum number of strikes and possible strikes included in the maximum.

The “other US operations” category will now tally ground operations, such as special forces raids, and the naval bombardment and the cruise missile attacks.

LOCATION

القوز, Al Qawz junction, Abyan, Yemen

A US drone strike killed at least two alleged AQAP militants on a motorcycle at Al Qawz junction, Mudiyah district of Abyan governorate, on the night of September 14th 2017. However it was also reported that a passing vehicle was damaged, causing civilian injuries. More than three years later, in response to Airwars publishing its

Summary

Civilians reported injured

حرمك, Kunya Barrow, Middle Juba, Somalia

LOCATION

The US carried out an air strike on September 13th, killing six al Shabaab members, according to a press release from US Africa Command. The strike took place at approximately 0215 local time (1115 GMT), hitting an area in southern Somalia about 260km south of the capital, AFRICOM said. The original press release said three

Summary

جاعر, In the vicinity of Ja'ar, Al Bayda, Yemen

LOCATION

At least one US drone strike reportedly killed at least two alleged AQAP militants in the Al-Sallabah and Ja’er area of Sama’a district, in Bayda governorate, on the afternoon of September 11th 2017. There were no known associated reports of civilian harm. According to some Twitter sources including @demolinari, the strike targeted a vehicle in

Summary

Suspected target

2–5

السرو ، بالقرب من قريضة, Al Saru, in the vicinity of Quraidah, Al Bayda, Yemen

LOCATION

Two US drone strikes in the Al Saru area of the Sama’a district in Bayda governorate, on the afternoon of September 9th 2017, reportedly killed at least one alleged AQAP militant and as many as four civilians, according to some sources. In a later email to the Bureau of Investigative Journalism, a US Central Command

Summary

2 – 4

1–5

على مقربة من هوائي بين قريضة والرباط, In the vicinity of an Antenna, between Quraidah and Al Rabat, Al Bayda, Yemen

LOCATION

A US drone strike reportedly killed at least two alleged AQAP militants in the village of Qareidha, Sama’a area of Bayda governorate, on the afternoon of September 9th 2017. In a later email to the Bureau of Investigative Journalism, a US Central Command spokesperson confirmed that three strikes were conducted in Bayda governorate on September

Summary

LOCATION

البيضاء, Al Bayda, Yemen

In an email to the Bureau of Investigative Journalism, a US Central Command spokesperson stated that three strikes had been conducted against AQAP in Al Bayda governorate on September 9th 2017. Multiple sources reported that one strike took place in the village of Qareidah (USYEMTr100) on that day, while two munitions reportedly targeted a single

Summary

حرمك, Kunya Barrow, Lower Shabelle, Somalia

LOCATION

AFRICOM reported that the previous day it had conducted “a precision airstrike in Somalia against al-Shabaab on Thurs., Sept. 7 at approximately 2:45 p.m. local Somalia time”. The release made no mention of civilian harm. However, AFRICOM asserted that the strike had killed “one (1) terrorist”. The strike was carried out under authorities passed in

Summary

Tortoroow and Dodale, Bay, Somalia

US investigates civilian deaths in Afghanistan and Somalia

Published

September 6, 2017

Written by

Jack Serle and Jessica Purkiss

Web link

This page is archived from original Bureau of Investigative Journalism reporting on US military actions in Yemen, Somalia, Pakistan and Afghanistan.

The US military is investigating allegations that two separate operations involving American troops killed at least 22 civilians in the space of a week.

The US military has confirmed it supported a Somali operation during which 10 civilians, including three young children, were reportedly shot dead. Reports suggest the raid targeted a farm in Bariire in Somalia’s Lower Shabelle region on August 25. The extent of the US role is not yet clear.

The UN mission in Afghanistan has found strikes killed at least 13 civilians and injured 12 others – all women and children – in Logar province, south of Kabul, on August 30. The US has launched an official investigation into the incident. Reports suggest possible US strikes targeted Taliban insurgents using a civilian compound to attack an aircraft.

The allegations come at a time when the US is increasing operations in both countries. Analysts fear that as the number of strikes and raids rise, so will civilian casualties.

In Afghanistan, additional US troops are already arriving, with more to follow over the next few months. The further escalation of the war announced by US President Donald Trump will also include a continued ramping up of air strikes. In August, there were 387 strikes, US data shows, a steep increase from the 80 carried out in the same month last year.

Meanwhile, strikes in Somalia have also been on the up. In March, President Trump approved a Pentagon proposal to declare certain parts of Somalia an “area of active hostilities”, freeing up commanders to carry out strikes and raids without going through the White House bureaucracy.

Despite the new authorities, there were no strikes in Somalia until June. With each passing month since then, strikes have however increased. The March authorities may expire at the end of September, meaning the uptick could be short-lived.

Photo: F-16 Fighting Falcons at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, Aug 31 2017.

LOCATION

On September 5th 2017, AFRICOM reported that it had conducted a precision airstrike in “central Somalia” against al-Shabaab militants that same day at approximately 9:50am local Somalia time. The release made no mention of civilian harm. However, AFRICOM asserted that the strike had killed “three (3) terrorists”. The action, it said, had hit in the

Summary

حرمك, Kunya Barrow near Barawe, Middle Juba, Somalia

LOCATION

The US said it carried out a strike near Barawe in southern Somalia on August 31st, killing one al Shabaab fighter and wounding one other. AP reported that “At least one missile struck a location outside Barawe that the extremists often use to launch attacks on the government-held town, a Somali intelligence official said. He

Summary

Bariire, Lower Shabelle, Somalia

LOCATION

The US military and the Somali government announced they were investigating reports that ten civilians, including three children, were killed during an operation on a farm in Bariire, in Somalia’s southern Lower Shabelle region. However, on November 28th 2017, the US published a press release concluding that only “armed enemy combatants” were killed. Earlier that

Summary

Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)

(3 children1 woman6–10 men)

Small arms and light weapons

US Forces, Somali Military Forces

Suspected belligerents

0–6

LOCATION

Yakla, Al Bayda, Yemen

US airstrikes reportedly targeted alleged AQAP militants travelling in Yakla, east of the Qifah area of Bayda governorate, early on the morning of August 19th 2017. There were no known associated reports of civilian harm. Several sources suggested that US helicopters and warplanes, reportedly including drones and “vertical fighters” [possibly USMC Harriers], targeted four suspected

Summary

Suspected target

Sheikh Ahmed Yare, 15 miles from Jilib, Middle Juba, Somalia

LOCATION

Seven civilians from the same family including a wife and husband died in US airstrikes which reportedly hit civilian homes near Jilib, according to two reports. The victims are named below. The US announced it carried out a series of attacks between August 16th and 17th, allegedly killing up to seven al Shabaab fighters. However

Summary

Airstrike, Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)

(2 children1 woman4–6 men)

7 named, 1 familiy identified

المرون , بالقرب من الخبر, Al Maroun, in the vicinity of Al Khabr, Abyan, Yemen

LOCATION

In an email to the Bureau of Investigative Journalism, US Central Command stated that a strike was conducted against AQAP in Abyan governorate on August 13th 2017, confirming multiple earlier reports that at least two alleged AQAP militants were killed in at least one afternoon US drone strike in Al Maroun, in the Khabr Maraqisha

Summary

(2 men)

Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), Other

Known targets

Named victims

2 named

LOCATION

Banaadir, Somalia

The US carried out two “kinetic” strikes against al Shabaab members in the Banadir region of southern Somalia on August 10th, US Africa Command announced. There were no known associated public reports of civilian harm. As AFRICOM itself has treated these as distinct events, we have separated them here. A press release from the Somali

Summary

Shashweyne, Banaadir, Somalia

LOCATION

According to a Freedom of Information request obtained by journalist Joshua Eaton in May 2019, this previously unknown US strike took place in the vicinity of Shashweyne, Bandir region, Somalia against al-Shabaab fighters. In its FOIA response, AFRICOM again confirmed it had targeted what it says were “AS fighters”, in the vicinity of Shashweyne, Banadir

Summary

الروضة, Al Rawda, Ma'rib, Yemen

LOCATION

A reported US drone strike targeted a minibus in Al Rawda neighbourhood, in the Wadi Ubaida area of Marib governorate, on the afternoon of August 3rd 2017. Several sources suggested that the strike targeted AQAP militants in the bus, killing three, though others indicated that as many as two civilians were killed and four injured,

Summary

Civilians reported injured

1 – 3

(2 children1 man)

2–4

1–3

الخثلة, Al Khathla, Ma'rib, Yemen

LOCATION

A US drone strike reportedly killed five alleged AQAP militants, including foreign fighters, in Al Khathla village in the Juba area of Marib governorate, early on July 31st 2017. There were no known associated reports of civilian harm. According to AFP, a Yemeni security official said that five alleged militants were killed in a drone

Summary

Suspected target

Tortoroow, Lower Shabelle, Somalia

LOCATION

US Africa Command (AFRICOM) confirmed a US strike killed Ali Muhammad Hussein, believed to be a high-level al Shabaab commander. No civilians were reported to have been killed or injured in the strike. The strike took place in Tortoroow in southern Somalia at around 1500 local time on July 30th, reportedly killing Jabal alone. Africom

Summary

Airstrike, Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)