Civilian Casualty Archive

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936 incidents

Incident Date

12 August 2016

Incident Code

LC039a

Location

بالقرب مدرسة خليج التحدي, Vicinity of Gulf Challenge School, Surt, Libya
Various sources reported the death of Mohammed al-Qadhafi as a result of a US airstrike on his family home in Sirte. Tek burns everything said on Facebook: "Mohammed al-Qadhafi, from Farajan of the family of Alwasa name of his mother, Haniyeh Faraj, lives in outside the planned district next to the Gulf Challenge School. Today,…

Summary

Published
12 August 2016
Infrastructure
Education
Civilians reported killed
1
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

10 August 2016

Incident Code

USSOM060

Location

Saakow, Middle Juba, Somalia
US forces helped Somali commandos in an operation in southern Somalia that killed several members of al Shabaab, a Pentagon official said on August 16th. The operation took place on August 10th. Somali forces approached an al Shabaab checkpoint. The terrorists reportedly opened fire and a gun battle ensued. “US advisers accompanied the Somali-led force,…

Summary

Published
10 August 2016
Strike Type
Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
Military actors reported killed
3
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

3 August 2016

Incident Code

LQ033

Location

Sirte, Surt, Libya
In an alleged friendly fire incident, a US strike in Sirte was reported to have accidentally killed 13 Al-Bunyan Al-Marsous members. According to Erem News, LNA spokesman Ahmed al-Mismari commented on the incident: “Colonel Ahmed al-Mismari reported the killing of 13 GNA soldiers in a US aircraft by mistake, which was targeting elements of Daesh…

Summary

Published
3 August 2016
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

2 August 2016

Incident Code

USYEM269

Location

مديرية الوضيع، أبين‎, Al-Wadiah District, Abyan, Yemen
At least three children were killed and their parents were injured by alleged US airstrikes on a family home in the village of Al-Shemil in the district of Al-Wadiah, Yemen on August 2, 2016. Spanish news agency EFE reported that "at least three children died and their parents were wounded in an air strike on…

Summary

Published
2 August 2016
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
Infrastructure
Residential
Civilians reported killed
3–5
Civilians reported injured
2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

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
Military actors reported killed
70
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

10 July 2016

Incident Code

USYEM267

Location

Al-Jaboul, Ma'rib, Yemen
An alleged US drone strike hit a car in the Al-Jaboul area, east of the city of Ma'rib, Yemen on July 10, 2016 and reportedly injured up to five people, whose status as civilians/militants is contested among the sources, and killed four civilians, including children. Saba News reported that the victims were citizens, alleging that…

Summary

Published
10 July 2016
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
Infrastructure
Residential, Vehicle (Car)
Civilians reported killed
4
Civilians reported injured
0–5
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

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
Military actors reported killed
3
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

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

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)
Military actors reported killed
16
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

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
Military actors reported killed
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

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
Military actors reported killed
3
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

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)
Military actors reported killed
5
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

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

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
Military actors reported killed
5–15
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

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)
Military actors reported killed
8
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

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
Military actors reported killed
6
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

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
Airstrike, Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
Civilians reported killed
0–1
Military actors reported killed
4–23
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

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)
Military actors reported killed
1–3
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

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
Airstrike, Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
Military actors reported killed
19
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

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)
Military actors reported killed
150–200
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

19 February 2016

Incident Code

LC024

Location

صبراتة‎: قصر تليل / علالقة, Sabratha, Qasr Talil / Alalqa, Al Zawiyah, Libya
Two civilians of Serbian embassy staffers died along with a reported two or more women in a US airstrike in Sabratha which overall killed between 43 and 60 people – mostly Tunisians, who were allegedly training to carry out atrocities in Tunisia on behalf of ISIS. The strike also reportedly killed Noureddine Chouchane, a senior member of…

Summary

Published
19 February 2016
Civilians reported killed
4
Civilians reported injured
5
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

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)
Military actors reported killed
5
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

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)
Military actors reported killed
3
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

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
View Incident

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)
Military actors reported killed
5–10
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

5 October 2015

Incident Code

USYEM239d

Location

Yemen, Yemen
The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) reported that during the funeral for two people killed two days earlier (documented in USYEM239c), another drone strike killed two others on October 5, 2016. OHCHR attributed the drone strike to the US Air Force, in cooperation with the Government of Yemen. A…

Summary

Published
20 May 2025
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
Civilians reported killed
2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

3 October 2015

Incident Code

USYEM239c

Location

مَأْرِب, Ma'rib, Yemen
The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) reported that according to "reports received", two internally displaced persons from Jawf were killed by a drone attack in eastern Ma'rib on October 3, 2015. OHCHR attributed the drone strike to the US Air Force, in cooperation with the Government of Yemen. There…

Summary

Published
20 May 2025
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
Civilians reported killed
2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

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
Military actors reported killed
2–30
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

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 actors reported killed
2–10
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

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)
Military actors reported killed
3
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident