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 date

February 15, 2024

Incident Code

USSOM418

LOCATION

Jilib, Middle Juba, Somalia

Two Cuban doctors, general medicine specialist Assel Herrera and surgeon Landy Rodriguez, were reportedly killed in a declared U.S. airstrike (possibly drone strike) conducted around 12:05am on the 15th of February 2024 in the town of Jilib, in the region of Middle Juba, Somalia. The militant group Al-Shabaab stated via Telegram that it had captured

Summary

First published
February 15, 2024
Last updated
June 18, 2024
Strike status
Declared strike
Strike type
Airstrike, Drone Strike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
2
(2 men)
Cause of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Impact
Healthcare
Impact on services or infrastructure relating to education, health or food supply. See methodology note for details.
Known belligerent
US Forces
Known target
Al-Shabaab
Named victims
2 named
Belligerents reported injured
1
View Incident

Incident date

October 5, 2013

Incident Code

USSOM027

LOCATION

Baraawe, Lower Shabelle, Somalia

At least one and as many as seven al Shabaab militants were killed in a naval raid carried out by US forces in Barawe, Lower Shabelle, international media reported. There were no reports of civilian harm. It was not at first clear who was the target of the raid. Reports varied from an unnamed Chechen;

Summary

First published
October 5, 2013
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Declared strike
Strike type
Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
Civilian harm reported
No
Civilians reported killed
0
Cause of injury / death
Small arms and light weapons
Known belligerent
US Forces
Known target
Al-Shabaab
Belligerents reported killed
1–7
View Incident

Incident date

February 24, 2017

Incident Code

USSOM069

LOCATION

Hawina, north of Kismayo, Lower Juba, Somalia

Somali news outlet Mareeg reported a suspected drone strike on an al Shabaab controlled village. Mareeg reported an eyewitness as saying: “We heard several bomb explosion caused by drone airstrikes in Hawina village.” He added: “It is not clear how many people have been killed or wounded it is very difficult to know the real

Summary

First published
February 24, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Single source claim
Strike type
Airstrike, Drone Strike
Civilian harm reported
No
Civilians reported killed
Unknown
Suspected belligerent
US Forces
Suspected target
Al-Shabaab
View Incident

Incident date

November 21, 2017

Incident Code

USSOM105

LOCATION

Bur Elade, Bay, Somalia

AFRICOM reported on the same day that it had “conducted an airstrike in Somalia against an al-Shabaab camp on Tuesday, Nov. 21 at approximately 10:30 a.m. local Somalia time”. It added that “the operation occurred 125 miles northwest of the capital, Mogadishu” though AFRICOM made no mention of civilian harm. However, it claimed that the

Summary

First published
November 21, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
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 belligerent
US Forces
Known target
Al-Shabaab
Belligerents reported killed
100–105
View Incident

Incident date

August 21, 2018

Incident Code

USSOM142

LOCATION

46 km northeast of Kismayo, Lower Juba, Somalia

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

First published
August 21, 2018
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Declared strike
Strike type
Airstrike
Civilian harm reported
No
Civilians reported killed
0
Known belligerent
US Forces
Known target
Al-Shabaab
Belligerents reported killed
2
View Incident

Incident date

February 3, 2019

Incident Code

USSOM188

LOCATION

غندرشي, Gandarshe, Lower Shabelle, Somalia

US Africa Command reported that it had conducted an  airstrike “in the vicinity of Gandarshe, Lower Shebelle Region, Somalia, on February 3, 2019”. AFRICOM added that “at this time, it was assessed no civilians were injured or killed in either airstrike.” It did not specify whether any belligerent forces had been killed or injured. According to

Summary

First published
February 3, 2019
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Declared strike
Strike type
Airstrike
Civilian harm reported
No
Civilians reported killed
Unknown
Cause of injury / death
Unknown
Known belligerent
US Forces
Known target
Al-Shabaab
Belligerents reported killed
1–5
View Incident

Incident date

May 22, 2019

Incident Code

USSOM227

LOCATION

Beled Amin, Lower Shabelle, Somalia

The US military carried out an airstrike near Baled Amin in the Lower Shabelle region, according to a press release issued 48 hours later by US Africa Command. The strike killed two al Shabaab fighters according to AFRICOM, which also asserted that it currently determined that no civilians had been harmed in the attack. “Al-Shabaab

Summary

First published
May 22, 2019
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Declared strike
Strike type
Airstrike
Civilian harm reported
No
Civilians reported killed
0
Cause of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Known belligerent
US Forces
Known target
Al-Shabaab
Belligerents reported killed
2
View Incident

Incident date

July 24, 2018

Incident Code

USSOM137

LOCATION

Qalimow, Middle Shabelle, Somalia

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

First published
July 23, 2018
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Single source claim
Strike type
Airstrike, Drone Strike
Civilian harm reported
No
Civilians reported killed
Unknown
Cause of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Suspected belligerent
US Forces
Suspected target
Al-Shabaab
Belligerents reported killed
0–1
View Incident

Incident date

September 3, 2019

Incident Code

USSOM246

LOCATION

Near Jilib, Middle Juba, Somalia

The United States carried out a second airstrike near Jilib on September 3rd 2019, this time against an “al-Shabaab associated vehicle”, and with no known casualties. Details were revealed by AFRICOM in an email exchange with the Bureau of Investigative Journalism on October 4th 2019: “Separately, AFRICOM conducted an air strike targeting al-Shabaab equipment in

Summary

First published
September 3, 2019
Last updated
January 18, 2022
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 belligerent
US Forces
Known target
Al-Shabaab
View Incident

Incident date

February 19, 2020

Incident Code

USSOM279

LOCATION

Wadajir, Lower Shabelle, Somalia

Three Al Shabaab fighters were allegedly killed in a US airstike near Wadajir, according to AFRICOM. The US military’s press release said: “In coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia, U.S. Africa Command conducted a precision airstrike targeting al-Shabaab terrorists in the vicinity of Wadajir, Somalia, Feb. 19. The command’s initial assessment concluded this precision airstrike

Summary

First published
February 19, 2020
Last updated
January 18, 2022
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 belligerent
US Forces
Belligerents reported killed
3
View Incident

Incident date

April 9, 2020

Incident Code

USSOM306

LOCATION

جيليب, Kobon, Lower Juba, Somalia

Ten Al Shabaab members were reportedly killed by a US airstrike near Kobon. AFRICOM stated in its press release: “In coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia, U.S. Africa Command conducted a collective self-defense strike against al-Shabaab terrorists who engaged U.S. partner forces, Somali National Army Danab, and Jubaland Security Force, near Kobon, Somalia, Apr.

Summary

First published
April 9, 2020
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Declared strike
Strike type
Airstrike
Civilian harm reported
No
Civilians reported killed
Unknown
Cause of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Suspected belligerent
US Forces
Known target
Al-Shabaab
Belligerents reported killed
10
View Incident

Incident date

January 13, 2021

Incident Code

USSOM329

LOCATION

Buulo Fulaay, Bay, Somalia

A US airstrike allegedly killed one Al Shabaab fighter near Buulo Fulaay. The AFRICOM press release said: “In coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia, U.S. Africa Command forces conducted one airstrike in the vicinity of Buulo Fulaay, Somalia Jan. 13, 2021. Initial assessments indicate the strike killed one al-Shabaab personnel and destroyed one compound.

Summary

First published
January 13, 2021
Last updated
January 18, 2022
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 belligerent
US Forces
Known target
Al-Shabaab
Belligerents reported killed
1
View Incident

Incident date

November 30, 2022

Incident Code

USSOM361

LOCATION

Ali Foldhere, Middle Shabelle, Somalia

Up to 40 members of al-Shabaab were killed and others were wounded by Somali forces and “international partner” airstrikes or ground operations near the village of Ali Foldhere on November 30, 2022. Shabelle Media Network quoted the Somali government who announced that an operation carried out by the National Army, National Intelligence and Security Agency

Summary

First published
November 30, 2022
Last updated
May 30, 2023
Strike status
Contested strike
Strike type
Airstrike, Ground operation
Civilian harm reported
No
Civilians reported killed
Unknown
Cause of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Suspected belligerents
US Forces, Somali Military Forces
Suspected target
Al-Shabaab
Geolocation
Village
Belligerents reported killed
40
Belligerents reported injured
2
View Incident

Incident date

July 19, 2023

Incident Code

USSOM394

LOCATION

near Hareeri Kalle, Galguduud, Somalia

Between five and 100 militants were killed and several others were injured by declared US airstrikes and Somali ground operations near Hareeri Kalle in July 19, 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 Hareeri

Summary

First published
July 19, 2023
Last updated
August 24, 2023
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 belligerent
US Forces
Known target
Al-Shabaab
Belligerents reported killed
5–100
Belligerents reported injured
2
View Incident