U.S. Forces – Airwars

The Civilian Harm Watchdog

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943 incidents

Incident Date

12 October 2016

Incident Code

Location

Vicinity of Water Tower, Surt, Libya

According to several sources on Twitter, at least two civilians died in a US airstrike in the morning in Sirte, one of them a child. The sources did not give clear estimates on casualties, though the pictures show two people most likely dead. Two more injured children can be spotted in the images. One source…

Summary

12 October 2016

Civilians reported killed

Civilians reported injured

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Incident Date

28 September 2016

Incident Code

Location

Jehdin, 30 km east of Galkayo, Mudug, Somalia

A US drone strike on September 28th killed at least ten members of a local friendly militia and not al Shabaab militants as the US had initially believed, according to local communities and an investigation by the Washington Post. Between three and 16 additional members of the Galmadug militia were injured. At least one source,…

Summary

28 September 2016

Airstrike (Drone Strike)

Civilians reported killed

Military actors reported killed

Causes of Death / Injury

Heavy weapons and explosive munitions

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Incident Date

26 September 2016

Incident Code

Location

Caba, Lower Juba, Somalia

The US reported in a press release published on September 27th that it had conducted a “self-defence strike” in Caba near Kismayo the previous day, killing four al Shabaab fighters . The press release said that a group of armed al Shabaab fighters attacked the Somali force and their US advisors. The Somali forces returned…

Summary

26 September 2016

Airstrike, Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)

Military actors reported killed

Causes of Death / Injury

Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons

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Incident Date

10 September 2016

Incident Code

Location

سااكوو, Saakow, Middle Juba, Somalia

According to a Freedom of Information response obtained by journalist Joshua Eaton in May 2019, this previously unknown confirmed US strike took place in the vicinity of Saakow, Somalia against an unspecified "al-Shabaab Named Objective". This incident was not previously publicly known. No further details are currently available.

Summary

10 September 2016

Causes of Death / Injury

Heavy weapons and explosive munitions

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Incident Date

5 September 2016

Incident Code

Location

Tortoroow, Lower Shabelle, Somalia

The US reported two days after the event that it had conducted two “self-defence strikes” on September 5th against al Shabaab, killing four militants. According to an AFRICOM press release, the strikes hit near Tortoroow and were conducted in coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia after a Somali-led counter-terrorism operation came under attack. Garowe…

Summary

5 September 2016

Airstrike, Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)

Military actors reported killed

Causes of Death / Injury

Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons

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Incident Date

5 September 2016

Incident Code

Location

Tortoroow, Lower Shabelle, Somalia

The US reported two days after the event that it had conducted two “self-defence strikes” on September 5th against al Shabaab, killing four militants in total. According to an AFRICOM press release, the strikes hit near Tortoroow and were conducted in coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia after a Somali-led counter-terrorism operation came under…

Summary

5 September 2016

Airstrike, Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)

Military actors reported killed

Causes of Death / Injury

Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons

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Incident Date

Incident Code

Location

Gobanle, Lower Shabelle, Somalia

The US reported that it had conducted a “self-defense strike” against al Shabaab in coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia in a press release published on September 7th. It said the strike hit near Gobanale and had resulted in the deaths of two al Shabaab militants. The press release reported that during a Somali-led…

Summary

Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground), Airstrike

Military actors reported killed

Causes of Death / Injury

Heavy weapons and explosive munitions

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Incident Date

Incident Code

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

Civilians reported killed

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Incident Date

Incident Code

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

Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)

Military actors reported killed

Causes of Death / Injury

Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons

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Incident Date

Incident Code

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

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Incident Date

Incident Code

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

Airstrike (Drone Strike)

Civilians reported killed

Civilians reported injured

Causes of Death / Injury

Heavy weapons and explosive munitions

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Incident Date

Incident Code

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

Military actors reported killed

Causes of Death / Injury

Heavy weapons and explosive munitions

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Incident Date

Incident Code

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

Airstrike (Drone Strike)

Residential, Vehicle (Car)

Civilians reported killed

Civilians reported injured

Causes of Death / Injury

Heavy weapons and explosive munitions

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Incident Date

Incident Code

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

Military actors reported killed

Causes of Death / Injury

Heavy weapons and explosive munitions

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Incident Date

Incident Code

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

Causes of Death / Injury

Heavy weapons and explosive munitions

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Incident Date

Incident Code

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

Airstrike, Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)

Military actors reported killed

Causes of Death / Injury

Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons

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Incident Date

Incident Code

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

Military actors reported killed

Causes of Death / Injury

Heavy weapons and explosive munitions

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Incident Date

Incident Code

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

Military actors reported killed

Causes of Death / Injury

Heavy weapons and explosive munitions

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Incident Date

Incident Code

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

Airstrike, Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)

Military actors reported killed

Causes of Death / Injury

Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons

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Incident Date

9–10 May, 2016

Incident Code

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

Airstrike, Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)

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Incident Date

Incident Code

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

Airstrike (Drone Strike)

Civilians reported killed

Military actors reported killed

Causes of Death / Injury

Heavy weapons and explosive munitions

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Incident Date

Incident Code

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

Airstrike (Drone Strike)

Military actors reported killed

Causes of Death / Injury

Heavy weapons and explosive munitions

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Incident Date

Incident Code

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

Military actors reported killed

Causes of Death / Injury

Small arms and light weapons, Heavy weapons and explosive munitions

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Incident Date

Incident Code

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

Airstrike, Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)

Civilians reported killed

Military actors reported killed

Causes of Death / Injury

Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons

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Incident Date

Incident Code

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

Airstrike (Drone Strike)

Military actors reported killed

Causes of Death / Injury

Heavy weapons and explosive munitions

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Incident Date

Incident Code

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

Airstrike, Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)

Military actors reported killed

Causes of Death / Injury

Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons

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Incident Date

Incident Code

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

Airstrike (Drone Strike)

Military actors reported killed

Causes of Death / Injury

Heavy weapons and explosive munitions

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Incident Date

19 February 2016

Incident Code

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

19 February 2016

Civilians reported killed

Civilians reported injured

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Incident Date

22 December 2015

Incident Code

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

22 December 2015

Airstrike (Drone Strike)

Military actors reported killed

Causes of Death / Injury

Heavy weapons and explosive munitions

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Incident Date

2 December 2015

Incident Code

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

2 December 2015

Airstrike (Drone Strike)

Military actors reported killed

Causes of Death / Injury

Heavy weapons and explosive munitions

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