US Forces in Somalia

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

Belligerent
US Forces
Country
Somalia
start date
end date
Civilian Harm Status
Belligerent Assessment
Declassified Documents
Strike Status
Strike Type
Infrastructure

Incident Code

USSOM267

Incident date

January 16, 2020

Location

Wanlaweyn, Lower Shabelle, Somalia

Geolocation

2.61945, 44.89357 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Somali officials reported the death of a senior al Shabaab commander during a gun battle at Wanlaweyn. It was not clear whether US forces had also participated in the raid.

According to the Horn Observer, “The special forces known as DANAB raided the house of Mohamed Osman Hussein Buluush, a mlitant bomb expert in the town of Wanlawein 90 south of the capital, where he was killed in a fight, according to the state run Somali National News Agency (SONNA). According to Ismail Abdi Malik, Somali miltary commander this militant is said to have replaced Mohamed Siidow another militant bomb expert who was killed in a strike at Caliyow Barrow village.

Garowe Online reported similarly: “Osman Hussein Bulush, SONNA said, was killed by government forces in Wanlaweyn, following fierce gunfight between the militants and SNA. Bulush replaced Siidow SONNA said: ‘Government forces managed to kill Osman Hussein Bulush, the head of Mutafajiraad after fierce gunfight.'”

The incident occured around midnight.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Small arms and light weapons
  • Known attacker
    Somali Military Forces
  • Suspected attacker
    US Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al-Shabaab
  • Belligerents reported killed
    1–3

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Wanlaweyn, for which the coordinates are: 2.61945, 44.89357

Somali Military Forces Assessment:

  • Known 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
    Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Small arms and light weapons
  • Known attacker
    Somali Military Forces
  • Suspected attacker
    US Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al-Shabaab
  • Belligerents reported killed
    1–3

Sources (3) [ collapse]