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Civilian Casualty Archive
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Country
Iraq (2)
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✕
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✕
The method of military action or operation type
Strike Type
Strike Type
Airstrike (418)
Drone Strike (117)
Airstrike and/or Artillery (5)
Artillery (1)
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Causes of Death / Injury
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Heavy weapons and explosive munitions (397)
Planted explosives and unexploded ordnance (UXO) (2)
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Denial of access to/destruction of objects indispensable to survival (0)
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Grade indicating the degree to which sources reported the same belligerent(s)
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Strike Status
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Grade indicating the strength of available reporting on civilian harm
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Statements released by the perpetrator on their military action(s) and the resulting civilian harm if acknowledged
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People killed or injured, by demographic
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Casualty
Children (40)
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Search
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Incident Date
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Publication Date
434 incidents
Incident Date
26 January 2014
Incident Code
USSOM030-C
Location
Haway, Lower Shabelle, Somalia
Two civilian children were reported killed and their father severely injured when a US military drone strike attack seemingly directed at nine al Shabaab members struck Hawai, Lower Shabelle, international and local media reported. The strike was said to have targeted and failed to kill Ahmed Abdi Godane. While there initially were no reports of…
Summary
Published
26 January 2014
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
2
Civilians reported injured
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident
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Incident Date
1–30 June, 2014
Incident Code
USSOM031-C
Location
Farigow, 3 km west of Jilib, Middle Juba, Somalia
Between one and five civilians, including women and children, were killed as the Farigow leper colony near Jilib, Middle Jubba was struck by unknown warplanes, international media reported. A woman living near the settlement told the Kenyan group Journalists for Justice that the colony was struck by jets by "mid 2014", killing one person and…
Summary
Published
20 May 2014
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
1–5
Civilians reported injured
3
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident
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Incident Date
1 September 2014
Incident Code
USSOM032
Location
Sablaale, Lower Shabelle, Somalia
In this strike in Barawe, Lower Shabelle, up to six al Shabaab militants were killed, including the the group’s leader, Ahmed Abdi Godane (aka Mukhtar Abu Zubeyr or Ahmed Abdi Aw Mohamed), international and local media reported. There were no reports of civilian harm. The strike was the first known US attack in Somalia for some…
Summary
Published
1 September 2014
Strike Type
Airstrike
(
Drone Strike
)
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident
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Incident Date
29 December 2014
Incident Code
USSOM033
Location
سااكوو, Saakow, Middle Juba, Somalia
Up to three senior members of al Shabaab were killed by a US military drone in Saakow, Middle Juba, international media reported. There were no known reports of associated civilian harm. The US military said that an airstrike had targeted a “senior leader” of the al Shabaab militant group. Somalia’s National Intelligence and Security Agency later…
Summary
Published
29 December 2014
Strike Type
Airstrike
(
Drone Strike
)
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident
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Incident Date
31 January 2015
Incident Code
USSOM034-C
Location
Dugule, Lower Shabelle, Somalia
A mystery airstrike reportedly killed between 40 and 60 alleged belligerents on January 31st 2015. Xinhua also reported that "scores of others were injured" in the attack, leaving it unclear whether those injured were civilians or militants. It was described by some as a US drone strike - thought the Pentagon denied this. Abdulkadir Mohamed…
Summary
Published
31 January 2015
Strike Type
Airstrike
(
Drone Strike
)
Civilians reported injured
0–5
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident
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Incident Date
31 January 2015
Incident Code
USSOM035-C
Location
Diinsoor, Bay, Somalia
At least four civilian casualties were reported injured or killed in a confirmed US attack on Dinsooor, though it was not clear if they were injured or killed. JSOC had targeted and killed Yusef Dheeqm, al Shabaab’s head of external operations in the drone strike. Rear Admiral John Kirby confirmed in two separate Pentagon press conferences…
Summary
Published
31 January 2015
Strike Type
Airstrike
(
Drone Strike
)
Civilians reported killed
0–4
Civilians reported injured
4
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident
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Incident Date
2 February 2015
Incident Code
USSOM036
Location
Diinsoor, Bay, Somalia
According to a Freedom of Information response obtained by journalist Joshua Eaton in May 2019, this previously unknown US strike took place in Dinsoor, Somalia against an "al-Shabaab Named Objective". It should be noted however that the last known declared US strike in Dinsoor prior to February 2nd 2015 was on January 31st 2015. There…
Summary
Published
2 February 2015
Strike Type
Airstrike
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
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Incident Date
10 March 2015
Incident Code
USSOM037
Location
Tortoroow (and Ambereso), Lower Shabelle, Somalia
A single news source reported that “unidentified armed drones” targeted two alleged al Shabaab camps. Witnesses said the attacks hit camps in the towns of Torato and Ambereso. The regional governor Abdikadir Mohamed Nur confirmed the strikes but said the death toll had not been confirmed, although the terror group had sustained "human and material…
Summary
Published
10 March 2015
Strike Type
Airstrike
(
Drone Strike
)
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
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Incident Date
12 March 2015
Incident Code
USSOM038
Location
Abaq Xaluul, Bay, Somalia
A US Special Forces drone strike allegedly killed Adan Garaar, a senior member of al Shabaab, according to the Pentagon and Somali and Kenyan officials. The attack reportedly destroyed one or two vehicles in southwestern Somalia, killing two other alleged members of the group. There are currently no reports of civilian harm from this strike.…
Summary
Published
12 March 2015
Strike Type
Airstrike
(
Drone Strike
)
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
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Incident Date
15 July 2015
Incident Code
USSOM039
Location
Baardheere, Gedo, Somalia
A US drone strike allegedly killed “a senior commander and other members” of al Shabaab. Two or three people were reportedly killed by the drones – with an artillery barrage from Kenyan troops followed up the air attack according to the Los Angeles Times, and reportedly killing 50 'militants'. This was the first of six…
Summary
Published
15 July 2015
Strike Type
Airstrike
,
Artillery
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
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Incident Date
15 July 2015–18 July 2019
Incident Code
USSOM040
Location
مدينة ﺑﺮﺍﻭة, Baraawe, Lower Shabelle, Somalia
At least five US drone strikes hit in the space of three days killing an undisclosed number of people. They were reportedly carried out in support of African Union troops who were advancing on Baraawe, an al Shabaab stronghold since 2009. The strikes reportedly hit between the attack reported on July 15th and July 18th,…
Summary
Published
15 July 2015
Strike Type
Airstrike
(
Drone Strike
)
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
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Incident Date
22 November 2015
Incident Code
USSOM041
Location
Balad Amiin, Lower Shabelle, Somalia
A US strike targeted an al Shabaab base in Balad Amin in southern Somalia, killing between five and 10 of the group’s fighters. The Bureau of Investigative Journalism reported at the time that the US confirmed it carried out an airstrike “at approximately 4pm Eastern Time” – 1am November 22 local time – in defence…
Summary
Published
22 November 2015
Strike Type
Airstrike
(
Drone Strike
)
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
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Incident Date
29 November 2015
Incident Code
USSOM042
Location
Yasooman, Ceeldheer, Ceel Lahelay, Hiiraan, Somalia
Unidentified jets reportedly bombed three villages - Yasooman, Ceeldheer and Ceel Lahelay in the central Hiiraan region – all described as being under al Shabaab control. There were no reported casualties. According to All Africa: "An official says unidentified military jets bombed Al shabaab bases in the Somali region of Hiiraan on Sunday, the latest…
Summary
Published
29 November 2015
Strike Type
Airstrike
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
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Incident Date
2 December 2015
Incident Code
USSOM043
Location
Kunyo-Barow, Lower Shabelle, Somalia
At least three alleged members of al Shahaab were killed in an airstrike against Kunyo-Barow village. The US action killed Abdirahman Sandhere, a senior al Shabaab fighter, the US Defence of Department (DoD) declared, along with two other suspected members of the group. There are currently no reports of civilian harm from this strike. The…
Summary
Published
2 December 2015
Strike Type
Airstrike
(
Drone Strike
)
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
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Incident Date
22 December 2015
Incident Code
USSOM044
Location
Shanta Ameriko, Lower Shabelle, Somalia
A US drone strike reportedly killed Abu Ubaidah, leader of al Shabaab, as well as four other fighters. The US told the Bureau of Investigative Journalism: “We are aware of the media reports but have no information on the incident.” However two named Somali officials asserted that it was a drone attack. Ubaidah replaced Ahmed Abdi…
Summary
Published
22 December 2015
Strike Type
Airstrike
(
Drone Strike
)
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident
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Incident Date
5 March 2016
Incident Code
USSOM045
Location
Raso camp, Hiiraan, Somalia
US drones and jets reportedly killed between 150 and 200 alleged members of al Shabaab in a strike on a training camp in Somalia, 120 miles north of Mogadishu. There are currently no associated reports of civilian harm. The total killed could in fact be higher. The district governor for Buloburte told the BBC’s Somali…
Summary
Published
5 March 2016
Strike Type
Airstrike
(
Drone Strike
)
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
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Incident Date
8 March 2016
Incident Code
USSOM046
Location
Awdheegle, Lower Shabelle, Somalia
At least 19 alleged militants were killed in a joint operation between US and Somali forces in the village of Awdhegle. US attack helicopters supported US and Somali Special Forces who attacked an al Shabaab target in southern Somalia, the Pentagon and Somali officials said. The assault took place overnight. The soldiers flew on US…
Summary
Published
8 March 2016
Strike Type
Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
,
Airstrike
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
,
Small arms and light weapons
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident
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Incident Date
31 March 2016
Incident Code
USSOM047
Location
Between Jilib and Kamsuuma, Middle Juba, Somalia
A US drone strike targeted a vehicle carrying three al Shabaab figures in southern Somalia. The attack hit in the early evening and killed a senior al Shabaab leader, Hassan Ali Dhoore, according to the Pentagon. There were additional reports that two other militants were killed alongside Hassan Ali Dhoore. There are currently no reports…
Summary
Published
31 March 2016
Strike Type
Airstrike
(
Drone Strike
)
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident
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Incident Date
1 April 2016
Incident Code
USSOM048-C
Location
Buufow, Lower Shabelle, Somalia
At least four and up to 23 al Shabaab fighters were reported killed in a US airstrike at Buufow, near Janaaale. However more than three years later, one civilian fatality was also alleged. Two US actions on April 1st and April 2nd were later said to be “self-defence air strikes against al Shabaab fighters who…
Summary
Published
1 April 2016
Strike Type
Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
,
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
0–1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
,
Small arms and light weapons
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident
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Incident Date
2 April 2016
Incident Code
USSOM049
Location
Lower Juba, Somalia
This was the second of two strikes confirmed by the Pentagon on April 4th 2016. The attack was a “self-defence air strikes against al Shabaab fighters who posed imminent threats to US and partner nation forces in Somalia,” Department of Defense spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Michelle Baldanza told the Bureau of Investigative Journalism. Earlier on April 4th,…
Summary
Published
2 April 2016
Strike Type
Airstrike
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
,
Small arms and light weapons
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
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Incident Date
6 April 2016
Incident Code
USSOM050
Location
جيليب, Al Shabaab police station and vicinity in Jillib, Middle Juba, Somalia
The US carried airstrikes in self-defence in Jillib, Middle Juba, as reported by local media. According to one local tweet, the attack took place at night in Jilib. Mogadishu News claimed that eight militants were killed when an al Shabaab police station was struck - noting "civilian houses razed by the strikes." https://twitter.com/Aboukar_Sky/status/718077602817245184?s=20 An AFRICOM…
Summary
Published
6 April 2016
Strike Type
Airstrike
(
Drone Strike
)
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
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Incident Date
11 April 2016
Incident Code
USSOM051-C
Location
1.2 km east of Yontoy, Lower Juba, Somalia
Three civilians were reportedly killed in a US drone strike in Lower Juba. The attack began late on April 11 and continued into the small hour of April 12, Lt Col Michelle Baldanza of AFRICOM later said in a statement. The camp “posed an imminent threat to US personnel,” she said. Somali officials allege the…
Summary
Published
11 April 2016
Strike Type
Airstrike
(
Drone Strike
)
Civilians reported killed
3
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident
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Incident Date
9–10 May, 2016
Incident Code
USSOM052
Location
Tortoroow, Lower Shabelle, Somalia
Kenyan and Somali forces, and their US advisors, carried out a raid on an al Shabaab checkpoint in Toratorow. The US carried out an airstrike during the operation - though initially denied doing so. Media reports said helicopters were involved, indicating that both US air and ground forces were participating. However a US spokesperson denied…
Summary
Published
9 May 2016
Strike Type
Airstrike
,
Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident
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Incident Date
12 May 2016
Incident Code
USSOM053
Location
Sabiid, Lower Shabelle, Somalia
A US air strike reportedly killed five people – all of them said to be al Shabaab fighters. The attack was defensive and conducted to protect African troops on the ground, an Africom spokesperson told the Bureau of Investigative Journalism. The Ugandan soldiers, part of the African Union peacekeeping force Amisom, were attacking a makeshift…
Summary
Published
12 May 2016
Strike Type
Airstrike
,
Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
,
Small arms and light weapons
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident
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Incident Date
13 May 2016
Incident Code
USSOM054
Location
Southern Somalia, Bay, Somalia
In June 2016, the US reported that six weeks earlier it had struck a group of al Shabaab fighters, killing three. According to the AFRICOM statement released on June 27th 2016, "U.S. forces supporting the Federal Government of Somalia, the Somali National Army and troop contributing nations to the African Union Mission in Somalia, provided…
Summary
Published
13 May 2016
Strike Type
Airstrike
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident
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Incident Date
27 May 2016
Incident Code
USSOM055
Location
جيليب, Jilib, Middle Juba, Somalia
A statement from the Pentagon said an airstrike in south-central Somalia had targeted Abdullahi Haji Daud - but initially did not confirm whether Daud had been killed. However on June 8th, Africom announced a “final assessment” which concluded “Daud was struck and killed in the airstrike”. There are currently no reports of civilian harm. It…
Summary
Published
27 May 2016
Strike Type
Airstrike
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
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Incident Date
31 May 2016
Incident Code
USSOM056
Location
Farwamo, near Bulogadud, Lower Juba, Somalia
Up to 16 al Shabaab fighters died in an operation reportedly carried out by Somali forces with US support, multiple sources said. The US claimed at the time that at the time that Somali forces alone were responsible for the kinetic actions. However, a FOIA response obtained in 2019 confirmed that the US had in…
Summary
Published
31 May 2016
Strike Type
Airstrike
,
Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
,
Small arms and light weapons
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident
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Incident Date
11 June 2016
Incident Code
USSOM057
Location
Galgala, Bari, Somalia
Unidentified jets struck what were described as "al Shabaab hideouts" in Galgala in the northern autonomous region of Puntland, according to a local report. Garowe Online said the strikes - carried out by warplanes "launched from a carrier at sea" - hit militants in their bases along the Golis Mountain Ranges in Puntland, northern Somalia.…
Summary
Published
11 June 2016
Strike Type
Airstrike
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
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Incident Date
21 June 2016
Incident Code
USSOM058
Location
South-central, Bay, Somalia
The US conducted “a self-defence strike against al Shabaab, killing three” in southern Somalia, describing the action as having "provided defensive fires to protect U.S. troops from imminent threats posed by the terrorist group al-Shabaab." A statement from US Africa Command (Africom) issued at the time said “the operation was conducted after it was assessed…
Summary
Published
21 June 2016
Strike Type
Airstrike
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
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Incident Date
24 July 2016
Incident Code
USSOM059
Location
El Adde, Gedo, Somalia
Local residents said jets bombed an al Shabaab camp near El Adde in Gedo region late at night on Sunday July 24. The attack hit the same area that 100 Kenyan peacekeepers were killed in January 2016 when al Shabaab forces overran their base. It was attributed to the Kenyan Defence Force with the Pentagon…
Summary
Published
24 July 2016
Strike Type
Airstrike
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
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