Civilian Casualties

2–6

Awhiigle, Gaduud, Lower Juba, Somalia

LOCATION

The sixth declared US strike in five days hit Somalia, targeting al Shabaab fighters, the US military told the Bureau of Investigative Journalism. An Africa Command spokesperson said the attack occurred at 0840 near Gaduud about 250 miles southwest of Mogadishu. As of November 15th, the US was still “assessing the results of the strike”.

Summary

Airstrike, Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)

Golis Mountains, Noogal, Somalia

LOCATION

Two US strikes took place in Somalia on November 12th, with one targeting al Shabaab and the other hitting Islamic State, according to US Africa Command. The strikes killed “several” fighters, it said. The first strike against al Shabaab is recorded in a separate event. The second attack was carried out at approximately 0900 local

Summary

Southeast of Darusalaam, Lower Shabelle, Somalia

LOCATION

A US strike on al Shabaab fighters in the Lower Shabelle region also killed three civilians, Amnesty International later reported. Two US strikes took place in Somalia on November 12th, with one targeting al Shabaab and the other hitting Islamic State fighters, according to US Africa Command. The strikes killed “several fighters”, it said. The

Summary

(3 men)

0–3

وادي الحيات, Wadi Al Hayat, Al Bayda, Yemen

LOCATION

A US Central Command spokesperson told reporters that a strike had killed two alleged ISIS militants in Bayda governorate on November 12th 2017. This confirmed earlier reports that a US drone strike in the Dhi Kalib area of Qayfa had killed two at noon on that date. Two sources suggested that one of those killed

Summary

(1 man)

1–2

Osman Gaduud, Lower Shabelle, Somalia

LOCATION

US forces carried out a strike against al Shabaab at approximately 1630 local time on November 11, US Africa Command said. It made no mention of civilian harm. However, AFRICOM stated that the strike killed a single fighter, and that it took place near Gaduud, located 250 miles southwest of the capital, Mogadishu. This and

Summary

خبران, Khabran, Al Bayda, Yemen

LOCATION

Multiple sources reported that a US drone strike in Qayfa, in Bayda governorate, killed one civilian and seriously injured another on the morning of November 11th 2017. Some other sources suggested that at least one alleged ISIS militant was killed in the strike. US Central Command later confirmed that a strike took place in Bayda

Summary

Civilians reported injured

(1 man)

2 named, 1 familiy identified

1–3

2km north of Baasra, Lower Shabelle, Somalia

LOCATION

US forces carried out a strike against al Shabaab at approximately 8pm local Somalia time killing “several” fighters, US Africa Command (AFRICOM) said. It was also alleged by local officials that three civilians had died. The strike hit the Lower Shabelle region. A Somali military official told Voice of America the strike, which they said

Summary

10–13

صرار الجشم, Sirar Jusham, Al Bayda, Yemen

LOCATION

In an email to the Bureau of Investigative Journalism, a US spokesperson stated that a CENTCOM strike had targeted ISIS militants in Al Bayda governorate on November 10th 2017, killing two. This confirmed earlier local reports that a US drone strike had killed two alleged militants in or near Sirar Jusham, in the Qayfa area,

Summary

Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), ISIS - Yemen

Known targets

2–24

جبل عكد, Jabal Akad, Abyan, Yemen

LOCATION

A US drone strike reportedly killed two alleged AQAP militants in or near Jabal Akad, in the Lawdar district of Abyan governorate, on November 10th 2017. There were no known reports of civilian harm. According to @demolinari and @NokhbaHadramout, the US strike targeted the militants as they were travelling on a motorbike, killing both. Reuters

Summary

Suspected belligerent

Suspected target

Buulo Fuulay, Bay, Somalia

LOCATION

AFRICOM reported on the same day it had “conducted an airstrike in Somalia against al-Shabaab on Thur., Nov. 9 at approximately 3 p.m. local Somalia time”. It added that the “operation occurred in the Bay Region of Somalia, about 100 miles west of the capital, Mogadishu”. AFRICOM made no mention of civilian harm. However, it stated that

Summary

صرواح, Sirwah, Ma'rib, Yemen

LOCATION

Some local language sources, including @MasirahTV, suggested that a US drone strike took place in the Sirwah district of Marib governorate on the morning of November 4th. All sources posted on November 4th 2017 itself. There were no known associated reports of civilian or militant harm, and no further information was given. Given that all

Summary

Suspected belligerent

Suspected target

LOCATION

Buqa, Bari, Somalia

On November 3rd 2017, AFRICOM reported that it had “conducted two separate airstrikes against ISIS, in northeastern Somalia on Nov. 3”. It made no mention of civilian harm. However, AFRICOM stated that the strikes had killed “several terrorists”, though it was “currently assessing the results of the strikes”. The command added: “The first strike occurred at approximately

Summary

2–20

الحصون, Al Huson, Ma'rib, Yemen

LOCATION

A US drone strike reportedly killed at least two alleged AQAP militants in Al Huson, in the Al Wadi area of Marib governorate, on the evening of November 2nd 2017. In an email to the Bureau of Investigative Journalism, a US Central Command spokesperson confirmed that a strike had taken place in Marib, stating that

Summary

2–4

LOCATION

Buqa, Bari, Somalia

The US conducted its first known strike against so-called Islamic State in Somalia. CNN reported that both strikes were carried out by armed drone. According to Associated Press, “A US official said the strikes were carried out in northeastern Somalia, with the first around midnight local time and the second later in the morning. The

Summary

أم فريض, Am Furayd, Abyan, Yemen

LOCATION

A US drone strike reportedly killed an alleged AQAP militant, named as Ahmad Masfar Al-Khadr Al-Walidi, in or near Al-Furayd, in the Mudiyah district of Abyan governorate, around midnight on November 1st-2nd 2017. A local source told Sputnik that Al-Khader was killed by a drone strike between the villages of Al-Fareed and Kawkab. Al-Riyadh further

Summary

Suspected belligerent

Suspected target

بقرات, Baqarat, Al Bayda, Yemen

LOCATION

A US airstrike killed two ISIS militants “in a parked truck” in Bayda governorate on October 25th 2017, a US Central Command spokesperson told CNN News, one of two strikes against the group in the area that day. This confirmed local reports that a US drone strike had targeted ISIS militants in Baqarat, in the

Summary

Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), ISIS - Yemen

Known targets

2–7

عيشمة, Ayshamah, Al Bayda, Yemen

LOCATION

A US airstrike killed seven ISIS militants “traveling in a truck in a rural area of al-Bayda” governorate on October 25th 2017, a US Central Command spokesperson told CNN News, one of two declared strikes against the group in the area that day. This confirmed local reports that US drone strikes had killed at least

Summary

Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), ISIS - Yemen

Known targets

6–7

بين شرجان و ذي حورة, Between Sharjan and Dhi Hawra, Al Bayda, Yemen

LOCATION

On December 20th 2017, US Central Command stated that a strike had killed Obeidah Al-Lawdari, AQAP’s so-called Emir of Lawda”, and four “associates” in Bayda governorate on October 19th 2017. This announcement confirmed several earlier reports that a US drone strike had killed at least three alleged AQAP militants travelling in a car on or

Summary

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

2–3