US Forces in Somalia

US Forces in Somalia

Library image of an armed Reaper drone, December 2019 (US Air Force/ Senior Sergeant Haley Stevens)

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Somalia
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Incident Code

USSOM384

Incident date

May 13, 2023

Location

Ali Fuuto, Lower Shabelle, Somalia

Geolocation

1.545015, 44.042082 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

44 al-Shabaab militants were killed during operations carried out by Somalia government forces and international partners in the Ali Fuuto area in Lower Shabelle on May 13, 2023.

Voice of America quoted Somalia’s deputy information minister, Abdirahman Al-Adala, who said that the intelligence unit, with the support of international partners, killed 44 al-Shabab militants in the Ali Fuuto area while they were regrouping in the area at the time. Various Twitter accounts quoted this information without offering additional details.

While no sources directly implicated the US in the operation, the Somali government’s reference to “international partners” has in the past indicated US involvement.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Causes of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons
  • Suspected attackers
    US Forces, Somali Military Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al-Shabaab
  • Belligerents reported killed
    44

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Ali Fuuto, for which the generic coordinates are: 1.545015, 44.042082. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

US Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US Forces
  • US Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Somali Military Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Somali Military Forces
  • Somali Military Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Causes of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons
  • Suspected attackers
    US Forces, Somali Military Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al-Shabaab
  • Belligerents reported killed
    44

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

USSOM420

Incident date

February 24, 2024

Location

Jilib Marka, Lower Shabelle, Somalia

Airwars assessment

On the 24th of February, 2024, the Federal Government of Somalia released a statement claiming that attacks by Somali government forces and international partner forces, conducted early in the morning of the same day, had killed 30 Al-Shabaab militants at a meeting point in the village of Jilib Marka, in the Lower Shabelle region of Somalia. However, multiple sources pointed to US involvement in the strikes, with one referring to it as a “drone strike”.

According to Halqabsi News, reporting on the 24th of February, the Somali government statement specified that the forces involved in the operation had “targeted a gathering of Al-Shabaab” and also “confiscated a military cache used in their operations” after actionable intelligence had been obtained. Halqabsi News reported that the operation had included an airstrike and that the attacks had been conducted before dawn.

A similar report on the attack from the Shabelle Media Network, also dated the 24th of February, contained the headline “Suspected U.S. airstrike kills at least 30 Al-Shabaab militants in Somalia”. The news site AxAdle (February 24th) more specifically classified the attack as a drone strike, stating that it was “the second strike by the U.S. Africa Command in collaboration with the Somali National Army”.

On the same day, Halbeeg News stated that the operation had led to the destruction of vehicles in the Al-Shabaab ‘base’ and further noted that “the government also claimed to have killed ring leaders”.

The incident occured in the morning.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Suspected attackers
    US Forces, Somali Military Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al-Shabaab
  • Belligerents reported killed
    30

Sources (5) [ collapse]

US Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US Forces
  • US Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Somali Military Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Somali Military Forces
  • Somali Military Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Suspected attackers
    US Forces, Somali Military Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al-Shabaab
  • Belligerents reported killed
    30

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

USSOM396

Incident date

July 24, 2023

Location

in the Bisig Adde settlement of Buurhakabe district, Bay, Somalia

Airwars assessment

Mepa News reported that US airstrikes on the Bisig Adde settlement of Buurhakabe district on July 24, 2023 bombarded civilian areas, resulting in the death of 5 civilians, including children, and the injury of 10 civilians. Images posted by the source show multiple injured civilians being treated.

No other sources reported on this incident.

The incident occured at 12:00:00 local time.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • (2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al-Shabaab

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Civilians killed and injured by alleged US airstrikes in Somalia on July 24, 2023. (Image posted by Mepa News)

US Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US Forces
  • US Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • (2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al-Shabaab

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

USSOM374

Incident date

February 15–16, 2023

Location

Iji and Afad, Middle Shabelle, Somalia

Geolocation

3.182270, 45.542860 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Additional Geolocations

3.597604, 45.676374 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

More than 272 al-Shabaab militants were reportedly killed and others were injured by Somali forces and “international partner” airstrikes or ground operations in Iji and Afad villages near Jalalaqsi district on February 15-16, 2023.

Hiraan Online News reported that “unidentified drones” bombed villages in the Hiraan region on as part of clashes between Somali government forces and al-Shabaab. Residents told Hiraan Online that fighting started in Iji and Afad villages near Jalalaqsi district on Wednesday and that Somalia government forces announced that they had seized control of Afad village.

Voice of America (VOA) quoted Somalia’s Deputy Information Minister Abdirahman Yusuf Adala who said that “The Somali National Army with the help of the local clan forces and international partners killed over 200 al-Shabab terrorists in the Iji area alone, about 23 kilometers from the Mahaday district in the Middle Shabelle region on Thursday. Also, the joint forces recovered weapons and supplies of medicine and foodstuff from the militants.” Adala added that four militant commanders were among those killed and a number of others were injured, and taken into custody.

The deputy security chief of Jalalaqsi town told VOA that “The joint forces responding to the militants’ movement launched military operations in which 72 militants were killed, and weapons were seized” in Afad village area.

AFRICOM announced airstrikes in a different region near Bacadweyne on February 15th that resulted in the death of 5 al-Shabaab militants.

While no sources directly implicated the US in the operation, the Somali government’s reference to “international partners” has in the past indicated US involvement.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Causes of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons
  • Suspected attacker
    US Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al-Shabaab
  • Belligerents reported killed
    72–272
  • Belligerents reported injured
    2

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the villages of Iji and Afad. The generic coordinates for Iji are: 3.182270, 45.542860. The generic coordinates for Afad are: 3.597604, 45.676374. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

US Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US Forces
  • US Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Causes of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons
  • Suspected attacker
    US Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al-Shabaab
  • Belligerents reported killed
    72–272
  • Belligerents reported injured
    2

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

USSOM406

Incident date

September 23, 2023

Location

Villages of Balal-Dheer, El-Gambar, and Mililiqo, Gal-Gaduud region, central Somalia, Somalia

Airwars assessment

Local and official sources alleged that 27 al-Shabaab militants were killed by operations and airstrikes declared by the Somali military in the villages of Balal-Dheer, El-Gambar, and Mililiqo on September 22, 2023.

On Friday the 22nd of September, 2023, the Somali Ministry of Defense posted a statement on X / Twitter that “over 27 Khawarij militants were eliminated in a successful operation by the Somali National Army”. Yeni Safak News provided further details of the Ministry of Defense statement: that the operation had taken place in the villages of Balal-Dheer, El-Gambar, and Mililiqo where “three terrorist bases were targeted and destroyed, along with their vehicles and military equipment”. Also on the 22nd of September, Garowe Online News added context to the attacks, noting recent “intensified ops involving airstrikes in south and central Somalia”.

Osman Omar, an open-source intelligence investigator, posted on X / Twitter, on the 23rd of September, that the Somali Air Force had “successfully targeted and neutralized an Al-Shabaab convoy” in the Gal-Gaduud region after a tip-off was received by the Somali National Army from a nomadic resident regarding the presence of Al-Shabaab militants in the areas of Balal and God Shilin. Omar stated that “Somali Air Forces swiftly acted, eliminating both vehicles and dozens of Al-Shabaab fighters”. There have been no reports of civilian casualties connected to the strikes.

While no sources directly implicated the US in the operation, the Somali government’s reference to airstrikes has in the past indicated US involvement.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Suspected attackers
    Somali Military Forces, US Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al-Shabaab
  • Belligerents reported killed
    27

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: @Osman_estate

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: @Osman_estate

Somali Military Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Somali Military Forces
  • Somali Military Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

US Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US Forces
  • US Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Suspected attackers
    Somali Military Forces, US Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al-Shabaab
  • Belligerents reported killed
    27

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

USSOM385

Incident date

May 20, 2023

Location

Jilib, Middle Juba, Somalia

Geolocation

0.493790, 42.776410 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One senior al-Shabaab militant was injured by declared US AFRICOM airstrikes on Jilib, Somalia on May 20, 2023.

Somali National News Agency’s Twitter account @SONNALIVE first announced that “In a joint operation with international allies, the armed forces launched an airstrike on #Jilib city, the headquarters of #AlShabab terrorists. The enemy suffered losses in terms of casualties and destroyed equipment.”

The next day, AFRICOM announced that “In coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia, AFRICOM conducted an airstrike against the al-Shabaab militant network in Somalia on May 20, 2023. The strike occurred in Jilib, Somalia. Following a comprehensive battle damage assessment USAFRICOM assesses that one al-Shabaab fighter was injured as a result of the operation. The command’s assessment is that no civilians were injured or killed.”

Former al-Shabaab official Omar Mohamed Abu Ayan told Voice of America that Al-Shabaab’s head of external operations Osman Mohamed Abdi, known as Moallim Osman, was the target of the operation and appears to have survived the strike with an injury.

Somalia’s Ministry of Information said in a statement that the target Moallim oversaw bringing foreign fighters to Somalia to join al-Shabaab. Another Somali official said that he was involved in planning the al-Shabaab attack in January 2016 against an African Union military base manned by Kenyan forces in El Adde, which is the hometown of Moallim, as well as supervising al-Shabaab attacks on Kenya and their incursion into Ethiopia in 2022.

Garowe Online reported on May 26th that according to multiple sources, Moallim was in “critical and unconscious” condition, had suffered “major injuries” and that his condition was “deteriorating on an hourly basis”.

@HarunMaruf gave context that the strike occurred while the Director of Somalia’s National Intelligence and Security Agency was visiting Washington and New York, meeting with the Pentagon, FBI and CIA Officials.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Known attacker
    US Forces
  • Known target
    Al-Shabaab
  • Belligerents reported injured
    1

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Jilib, for which the generic coordinates are: 0.493790, 42.776410. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

US Forces Assessment:

  • Known belligerent
    US Forces
  • US Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

US Forces
Official source

In coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia, AFRICOM conducted an airstrike against the al-Shabaab militant network in Somalia on May 20, 2023.

The strike occurred in Jilib, Somalia.

*Following a comprehensive battle damage assessment USAFRICOM assesses that one al-Shabaab fighter was injured as a result of the operation. The command’s assessment is that no civilians were injured or killed.

U.S. Africa Command takes great measures to prevent civilian casualties. Protecting innocent civilians remains a vital part of the command’s operations to promote a more secure and stable Africa.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Known attacker
    US Forces
  • Known target
    Al-Shabaab
  • Belligerents reported injured
    1

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Incident Code

USSOM421

Incident date

February 23, 2024

Location

Al-Shabaab bases in Galhareeri district, Galhareeri district, central Somalia, Somalia

Airwars assessment

On the 23rd of February, 2024 senior Al-Shabaab commanders were reportedly killed in an airstrike announced by the Somali military and conducted against bases of the militant group in Galhareeri district, central Somalia. However, the number of Al-Shabaab members killed or injured in the strike remains unknown.

An online report on the airstrike was made by Radio Dalsan who stated, on the 23rd of February, that the strike was “carried out by the Somali National Army, supported by international allies” and added that the strike had “targeted the militants’ largest bases in Galhareeri district,” killing “senior commanders”. The Radio Dalsan report further claimed that the strike was launched “when a substantial number of Al-Shabaab members were present at the targeted base”.

To date, there have been no reports of civilian harm as a result of the airstrike.

While no sources directly implicated the US in the operation, the Somali government’s reference to “international partners” has in the past indicated US involvement.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Suspected attackers
    US Forces, Somali Military Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al-Shabaab
  • Belligerents reported killed
    2

Sources (1) [ collapse]

US Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US Forces
  • US Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Somali Military Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Somali Military Forces
  • Somali Military Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Suspected attackers
    US Forces, Somali Military Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al-Shabaab
  • Belligerents reported killed
    2

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

USSOM397

Incident date

August 15, 2023

Location

in a remote area near Cali Heele, Galgaduud, Somalia

Airwars assessment

Five al-Shabaab militants were reportedly killed by declared US airstrikes near Cali Heele in the Galgaduud region on August 15, 2023

AFRICOM released a statement that “At the request of the Federal Government of Somalia, U.S. Africa Command conducted a collective self-defense airstrike in a remote area near Cali Heele, approximately 244 kilometers North East of Mogadishu, Somalia against al-Shabaab terrorists on August 15. The airstrike was in support of Somali National Army forces who were engaged by the terrorist organization. Working with the Somali National Army, U.S. Africa Command’s initial assessment is that the U.S. airstrike killed 5 al-Shabaab terrorists and that no civilians were injured or killed.”

The Somali government added that the strikes also destroyed a militant hideout.

According to @HarunMaruf, Somali state media reported a similar casualty figure, which was supposedly one of the first times that the Somali state and the US reported similar casualty counts.

The incident occured in the morning.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Known attacker
    US Forces
  • Known target
    Al-Shabaab
  • Belligerents reported killed
    5

Sources (10) [ collapse]

US Forces Assessment:

  • Known belligerent
    US Forces
  • US Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

US Forces
Official source

At the request of the Federal Government of Somalia, U.S. Africa Command conducted a collective self-defense airstrike in a remote area near Cali Heele, approximately 244 kilometers North East of Mogadishu, Somalia against al-Shabaab terrorists on August 15.

The airstrike was in support of Somali National Army forces who were engaged by the terrorist organization.

Working with the Somali National Army, U.S. Africa Command's initial assessment is that the U.S. airstrike killed 5 al-Shabaab terrorists and that no civilians were injured or killed.

U.S. Africa Command takes great measures to prevent civilian casualties. Protecting civilians remains a vital part of the command's operations to promote a more secure and stable Africa.

Al-Shabaab is the largest and most kinetically active al-Qaeda network in the world and has proved both its will and capability to attack partner and U.S. forces and threaten U.S. security interests.

Somalia remains key to the security environment in East Africa. U.S. Africa Command's forces will continue training, advising, and equipping partner forces to give them the tools that they need to degrade al-Shabaab.

U.S. Africa Command will continue to assess the results of this operation and will provide additional information as appropriate. Specific details about the units involved and assets used will not be released in order to ensure operations security.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Known attacker
    US Forces
  • Known target
    Al-Shabaab
  • Belligerents reported killed
    5

Sources (10) [ collapse]