US Forces in Yemen

US Forces in Yemen

Mabkhout Ali al Ameri with his 18-month old son Mohammed, shortly after a botched US raid on al Ghayil in January 2017 had killed at least 20 villagers, including Mohammed's mother Fatim Saleh Mohsen. © Iona Craig

Belligerent
US Forces
Country
Somalia
Afghanistan
Iraq
Libya
Pakistan
Syria
Turkey
Yemen
start date
end date
Civilian Harm Status
Belligerent Assessment
Declassified Documents
Strike Status
Strike Type
Infrastructure
text search
103 Results
sort by:
Sort by:
Incident date
Civilian deaths alleged
Civilian deaths confirmed by belligerent

Incident Code

USSOM379

Incident date

February 22, 2023

Location

Hiiraan, Somalia

Geolocation

4.208662, 45.472188 Note: The accuracy of this location is to District level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

20 alleged al-Shabaab militants were killed by a Somali forces and “international partner” airstrike in Hiraan region on February 22, 2023.

Asharq Al-Awsat quoted Somali state television which announced that 20 al-Shabaab militants traveling in a vehicle were killed in airstrikes carried out by Somali intelligence forces in cooperation with international allied forces.

There were no other details available as to who was involved in the airstrike and the resulting casualties.

While no sources directly implicated the US in the operation, the Somali government’s reference to “international partners” has in the past indicated US involvement.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Suspected attacker
    US Forces
  • Belligerents reported killed
    20

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the administrative region of Hiraan, for which the generic coordinates are: 4.208662, 45.472188. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

{"type":"FeatureCollection","features":[{"type":"Feature","properties":{"stroke":"#ff0000","stroke-width":1,"stroke-opacity":1,"fill-opacity":0},"geometry":{"type":"MultiPolygon","coordinates":[[[[45.71684344400006,5.109958242000062],[45.728798934000054,5.107060269000044],[45.72880128600008,5.107064344000037],[45.74637405200008,5.102807726000037],[45.82025263500003,5.084912256000052],[45.82025278400005,5.084912220000035],[46.04054477100004,5.031494105000036],[46.04098510700004,5.03138732900004],[46.041390646000025,5.031494105000036],[46.05155573500008,5.034170510000024],[46.230987549000076,5.081382275000067],[46.22982841900006,5.07325787700006],[46.229915695000045,5.073277013000052],[46.21098709100005,4.94139528200003],[46.111586147000025,4.742520806000073],[46.11108398400006,4.741516113000046],[46.126443005000056,4.622600770000076],[46.12644304100007,4.622600491000071],[46.12644304600008,4.622600455000054],[46.14356999300003,4.489201331000061],[46.15097626800008,4.431515008000076],[46.150976273000026,4.431514972000059],[46.22991573100006,4.368350202000045],[46.362636216000055,4.262151614000061],[46.396663269000044,4.23492428000003],[46.39682769800004,4.234792709000033],[46.396639684000036,4.201268324000068],[46.39408027500008,4.057797744000027],[46.39317832200004,4.009299030000022],[46.391964802000075,3.944047087000058],[46.39111324500004,3.891409704000068],[46.391113209000025,3.891409727000052],[46.39105538000007,3.891447164000056],[46.390987360000054,3.891409186000033],[46.30334291200006,3.842474100000061],[46.303342876000045,3.842474080000045],[46.29087729100007,3.835502432000055],[46.22520593100006,3.79876230800005],[46.091125488000046,3.571472168000071],[46.09094807500003,3.571235978000061],[46.07570521700006,3.550943149000034],[46.06109619100005,3.531494141000053],[46.06108825300004,3.531485786000076],[46.03088378900003,3.499694824000073],[46.01251220700004,3.465881348000039],[46.011598614000036,3.463409272000035],[46.01159860200005,3.463409236000075],[46.01148986800007,3.463083744000073],[46.01134117200007,3.462638303000062],[46.01031494100005,3.45928955100004],[46.00970459000007,3.457519531000059],[46.008728027000075,3.454528809000067],[46.00750732400007,3.450683594000054],[46.00689381400008,3.449314995000066],[46.006740570000034,3.448855877000028],[46.00639707800008,3.447825471000044],[46.00531005900007,3.444091797000056],[46.00390625000006,3.44030761700003],[46.00231933600003,3.435485840000069],[46.00170898400006,3.433715820000032],[46.001098633000026,3.431884766000053],[45.999511719000054,3.427124023000033],[45.999352533000035,3.426693284000066],[45.99765709700006,3.421607325000025],[45.99731445300006,3.420471191000047],[45.996392515000025,3.417813841000054],[45.996148066000046,3.417080544000044],[45.99511718700006,3.413879395000038],[45.99353027300003,3.409118652000075],[45.99315923800003,3.408114673000057],[45.99155440800007,3.403300514000023],[45.990295410000044,3.399475098000039],[45.989807588000076,3.398060414000042],[45.98963862900007,3.397553572000049],[45.98852539100005,3.393920898000033],[45.98752785900007,3.391221696000059],[45.98729999600005,3.390538152000033],[45.986511230000076,3.388122559000067],[45.98590087900004,3.386291504000042],[45.96534022800006,3.324659698000062],[45.96349354800003,3.319119711000042],[45.96089172300003,3.311313390000066],[45.96083178200007,3.311133490000032],[45.959716797000056,3.30749511700003],[45.94098027700005,3.251516869000056],[45.93379299800006,3.251015962000054],[45.90009639300007,3.248511951000069],[45.80047110000004,3.241101572000048],[45.80047061700003,3.241101536000031],[45.64335274000007,3.229383866000035],[45.51453380400005,3.219776698000032],[45.43582850000007,3.213891736000051],[45.41816025900005,3.212570644000039],[45.35814204600007,3.208042915000021],[45.35214966800004,3.207629508000025],[45.312624579000044,3.204657220000058],[45.29711402200007,3.203506551000032],[45.29711914100005,3.203491211000028],[45.296985662000054,3.203480967000075],[45.27189253700004,3.201555216000031],[45.27087402300003,3.20147705100004],[45.26993699600007,3.201555216000031],[45.26634289300006,3.201855029000058],[45.24654519200004,3.203506516000061],[45.18096538800006,3.208977059000063],[45.15087890600006,3.211486816000047],[45.09502295500005,3.239521632000049],[45.071122401000025,3.25145681500004],[45.070964580000066,3.25153562600002],[45.07096454400005,3.251535628000056],[45.038652454000044,3.253763337000066],[45.00514950300004,3.256073148000041],[44.87988281200006,3.264709473000039],[44.79322298300008,3.270639954000046],[44.78088378900003,3.271484375000057],[44.78088378800004,3.271484411000074],[44.78047325400007,3.28964036900004],[44.77829012300003,3.386189845000047],[44.77220710800003,3.64775122900005],[44.772144602000026,3.650270342000056],[44.77087402300003,3.70147705100004],[44.782357019000074,3.762302130000023],[44.80095672600004,3.861495495000042],[44.77569489800004,3.96799697900002],[44.76516797800008,4.012377483000023],[44.751098633000026,4.071472168000071],[44.75046782900006,4.074351923000052],[44.749716429000046,4.077519755000026],[44.749656677000075,4.077771664000068],[44.749634212000046,4.077880823000044],[44.74454662000005,4.102601772000071],[44.723161265000044,4.206913276000023],[44.68109130900007,4.411499023000033],[44.680459119000034,4.415201849000027],[44.67963705100004,4.419211655000026],[44.679637015000026,4.419211831000041],[44.67845177800007,4.430817410000031],[44.678339023000035,4.431450111000061],[44.67667839100005,4.440768384000023],[44.66439064000008,4.509718419000023],[44.592119643000046,4.934772617000021],[44.85326328000008,4.923069180000027],[44.92828369100005,4.919677734000061],[44.931846446000065,4.919547390000048],[44.94316040600006,4.919040342000073],[44.943152120000036,4.919025945000044],[44.98168945300006,4.917297363000046],[44.981692587000055,4.917302137000036],[45.018703739000046,4.955221631000029],[45.06861698700004,5.006482609000045],[45.150099107000074,5.090750917000037],[45.18540080900004,5.127249651000056],[45.187713372000076,5.129640441000049],[45.48114806400008,5.432947894000051],[45.65551757800006,5.178527832000043],[45.66943652600003,5.161717707000037],[45.67608642600004,5.153686523000033],[45.71059211100004,5.112147330000028],[45.710975647000055,5.111380577000034],[45.71684344400006,5.109958242000062]]]]}}]}

US Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US Forces
  • US Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Suspected attacker
    US Forces
  • Belligerents reported killed
    20

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

USSOM407

Incident date

September 23, 2023

Location

Elbur, Galgaduud province, central Somalia, Somalia

Airwars assessment

An unknown number of Al-Shabaab members, including top leaders, were reportedly killed by airstrikes allegedly carried out by the US and/or Somali military on Elbur in Galgaduud province on September 23, 2023. There have been no reports of civilian casualties connected to the strikes.

On the 23rd of September, 2023, the Somali Ministry of Defense posted a statement on X /Twitter that a “precision airstrike” had been conducted on a “meeting house” in the town of Elbur in the Galgaduud region. The statement went on to claim that the Somali National Army had killed key Al-Shabaab leaders including “their head of extortion and finance, Sahal.” Garowe Online stated that the individual killed, known only as ‘Sahal’, had been the group’s “finance and tax head,” while also attributing the strikes to the US military rather than the Somali military.

M.M.Dhoore, a former BBC journalist and the managing editor of SNTV (Somali National Television), London, released a post via X/Twitter on the evening of the 23rd of September stating that Somalia’s armed forces had conducted the airstrike using “recently acquired helicopters”. M.M. Dhoore’s post contained a photo of such aircraft.

Middle East Monitor News also reported on the attack, emphasizing the strategic significance of the town of Elbur and noting that it has been an Al-Shabaab stronghold for more than 15 years.

None of the sources gave a precise number of militants killed, with some referring to “several militants” killed while others reported “heavy casualties”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Suspected attackers
    Somali Military Forces, US Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al-Shabaab
  • Belligerents reported killed
    2

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: @dhoorebbc

Somali Military Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected 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
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Suspected attackers
    Somali Military Forces, US Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al-Shabaab
  • Belligerents reported killed
    2

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

USSOM361

Incident date

November 30, 2022

Location

Ali Foldhere, Middle Shabelle, Somalia

Geolocation

2.336260, 45.704910 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

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 (NISA), and international partners in Ali Foldhere resulted in the death of up to 40 members of al-Shabaab and the wounding of others.

Garowe Online reported that the al-Shabaab militants were targeted while they were plotting their own attack in the town.

Reuters described the location of the operation as being in a forest near the village of Ali Foldhere under Mahaday town of Middle Shabelle region.

@BCFinucane pointed out that this was another operation with support from Somalia’s “international security partners” who were not specified. Garowe Online pointed out that similar military operations in the past involved US Africa Command and the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia [ATMIS].

The incident occured during the night.

Summary

  • 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 attackers
    US Forces, Somali Military Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al-Shabaab
  • Belligerents reported killed
    40
  • Belligerents reported injured
    2

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Ali Foldhere, for which the generic coordinates are: 2.336260, 45.704910. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

US Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US Forces
  • US Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Somali Military Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Somali Military Forces
  • Somali Military Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • 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 attackers
    US Forces, Somali Military Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al-Shabaab
  • Belligerents reported killed
    40
  • Belligerents reported injured
    2

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

USSOM389

Incident date

June 16, 2023

Location

14 km from Jamame district, Lower Jubba, Somalia

Airwars assessment

43 al-Shabaab militants were killed by alleged US airstrikes near Jamaane District in Lower Jubba on June 16, 2023.

Garowe Online reported that airstrike carried out by the US struck a location where al-Shabaab militants were holding a meeting in Jamaane District in Lower Jubba, killing “several” militants. @SONNALIVE specified that the airstrikes occurred around 6:15pm in an area 14 km from Jamaane District, resulting in “heavy loss of life and many injuries.”

A tweet from @dhoorebbc identified Adan Abdirahman and Idiris Abdirahim Nur, a Kenyan National, as two top al-Shabaab officials who were killed by the US airstrike and Somali special forces near Jamaane town.

The Somali National News Agency (SONNA), quoted by VOA News, later reported that in addition to the two al-Shabaab leaders, a total of 43 al-Shabaab fighters were killed by the airstrike. According to SONNA, the militants were meeting to plan attacks against Barsanguni military base, which is home to the Somali National Army and local forces.

A tweet from @GaroweOnline pointed out that the strikes occurred just days after the head of AFRICOM visited Jubaland and met with President Ahmed Madobe on counterterrorism.

The incident occured at 18:15:00 local time.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Suspected attacker
    US Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al-Shabaab
  • Belligerents reported killed
    43

Sources (11) [ collapse]

US Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US Forces
  • US Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Suspected attacker
    US Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al-Shabaab
  • Belligerents reported killed
    43

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Incident Code

USYEMBi018

Incident date

March 22–23, 2024

Location

صنعاء, Sanaa, Yemen

Airwars assessment

A number of civilians were reportedly killed and injured by alleged US-UK airstrikes in Yemen on March 22/23, 2024.

The Houthi-run Human Rights Ministry, as quoted by Anadolu Agency and Saba News, “a number of civilians were killed and injured” by US-UK airstrikes in Yemen. No other information was available as to the number of civilian casualties.

Neither the US military not the UK military announced any airstrikes in Yemen on March 24th. However, multiple local sources reported that “American-British enemy aircraft carried out more than 16 raids on #Al-Hudaydah and #Sanaa governorates tonight, the most prominent of which were: 5 raids on Al-Munira District,# Al-Hudaydah; 4 raids on the Attan area in Al Wahda District,#Sanaa; 3 raids on the Jarban area in Sanhan District, #Sanaa; Two raids on the Al-Nahdain area in Al-Sabeen District, #Sanaa; A raid east of Azal District,#Sanaa.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attackers
    US Forces, UK Military
  • Suspected target
    Houthi Forces

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Operational developments #Prosperity_Guard: American-British enemy aircraft carried out more than 16 raids on #Al-Hudaydah and #Sanaa governorates tonight, the most prominent of which were: 🔸5 raids on Al-Munira District,# Al-Hudaydah 🔸4 raids on the Attan area in Al Wahda District,#Sanaa 🔸3 raids on the Jarban area in Sanhan District, #Sanaa 🔸Two raids on the Al-Nahdain area in Al-Sabeen District, #Sanaa 🔸A raid east of Azal District,#Sanaa

US Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US Forces
  • US Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

UK Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    UK Military
  • UK Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attackers
    US Forces, UK Military
  • Suspected target
    Houthi Forces

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1977

Incident date

February 3, 2022

Location

طمة, دير بلوط, Deir Balout, Atma, Syria

Geolocation

36.318883, 36.681660 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to thirteen civilians, including six children and four women, were reported killed and at least one child was injured after US forces targeted and subsequently killed the leader of the Islamic State (ISIS), Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi, in Atma, northwest Syria on February 3rd 2022. Local reporting was conflicted as to whether the casualties were caused by US forces or in the detonation of a suicide device. Local sources were also conflicted regarding the civilian status of the adults harmed in the incident.

Al-Qurayshi had been the leader of ISIS since his predecessor Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was also killed in a US operation on October 26th, 2019.

Reports indicated that the operation began with Apache helicopters and drones circling the area, with heavy machine gun fire targeted at the residential building just after 1am. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, US forces “carried out an airdrop in that area, where soldiers had called, via loudspeakers, to evacuate women and children from a house”. After 15 minutes, the sound of gunfire was reported – marking the beginning of a two hour long standoff, culminating in the alleged detonation of a suicide device from inside the building.

Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby in a statement on February 3rd, noted that there was gunfire between US forces and ‘lieutenants’ of al-Qurayshi on the second floor of the building, as well as in the area surrounding the building. He reported that al-Qurayshi was on the third floor of the building when he detonated the explosive device.

Regarding civilian harm, Kirby stated that four civilians had been killed during the raid, including three children: the wife and two children of al-Qurayshi killed on the third floor, and another child when “one of [al-Qurayshi’s] lieutenants and the lieutenant’s wife [were] firing back at our forces. They were killed and it appears as if a child was also killed on that second floor.”

None of the deaths have yet been confirmed by the US to have resulted directly from US actions, with Kirby noting: “the lives of innocents taken in this operation were caused by Abdullah and his decision of blowing himself up”. In reference to the child killed on the floor below al-Qurayshi, Kirby noted that “it’s a loss caused by Mr. Abdullah and his lieutenant”, however he also stated that the information was as yet not definitive: “we’re willing to take a look to just examine and make sure that there wasn’t any action that we might have taken that could have also caused harm to innocents”.

Syria TV and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) instead noted that either one or two women had detonated the explosive device – with SOHR stating that at least one of the women was non-Syrian, and Syria TV stating that she was of Russian or Chechen origin. This was not corroborated by other sources.

In an eyewitness account, a woman living in the same building that was targeted in the raid said: “The planes came around 1am. They started shouting at us. There was a first, second and third floor. They were saying we needed to get out of the house – men, women and children – and that we would be killed if not. They fired a missile/shell while we were inside, then they fired bullets and we were inside.” The woman added: “I came out behind them but I didn’t see them on the ground. They said put your hands on your head and get on the ground and take off your hijab. I was very scared. I couldn’t tolerate it… They took the kids from me directly and they searched me and handcuffed my hands behind me.”

Graphic images were circulated in the early hours of February 3rd on social media of several young children killed in the attack. The Syrian Civil Defense (White Helmets) teams reported the death of at least 13 people, stating: “Our teams treated the injured and recovered the bodies, handed over two bodies to the forensic medicine in the city of Idlib and secured the place to protect civilians.”

The White Helmets also added that a girl and another individual were injured in the attack. In their statement they report that “our teams rushed an injured child to the hospital. The child’s entire family was killed in the operation. The teams also rushed another person to the hospital who was injured in the clashes when he approached the scene to witness what was happening.”

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights put the initial death toll at nine.

UNICEF also confirmed the deaths of the children in the incident: “UNICEF confirms that at least six children were killed and one girl was badly injured overnight in the border town of [Atme] in the northwest of Syria due to heavy violence”.

In his statement about the incident, President Joe Biden said that they had “made a choice to minimise civilian casualties” by conducting the attack with special forces rather than by an airstrike, given the presence of al-Qurayshi’s family, including children, in the area.

The Guardian reported statements from US Officials, who said “there were moments of tension, when one of the helicopters malfunctioned and had to be landed and then destroyed, and then when the special forces team called for family members to come out of the building, knowing there were children inside”.

In a civilian casualty assessment released November 3, 2023, the Coalition classed this event as a ‘duplicate’, claiming that “This allegation is closed as a duplicate because the potentially corroborating operation is being assessed in Open Report No. 4.”

The incident occured at 01:00:00 local time.

The victims were named as:

Israa
Child female injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9 – 13
  • (6 children4 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Known attacker
    US Forces
  • Known target
    ISIS
  • Belligerents reported killed
    4–5

Sources (62) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (74) [ collapse]

  • A US forces raid on a house overnight on February 3rd caused significant destruction and at least eleven civilian were killed by the first reports (Image via Ahmad Bakkar/ Facebook)
  • A US forces raid on a house overnight on February 3rd caused significant destruction and at least eleven civilian were killed by the first reports (Image via Ahmad Bakkar/ Facebook)
  • A US forces raid on a house overnight on February 3rd caused significant destruction and at least eleven civilian were killed by the first reports (Image via Ahmad Bakkar/ Facebook)
  • 1 of 2: Syria TV published "pictures of the house that was targeted by the American forces at dawn today" on February 3rd 2022 (Image via Facebook)
  • 2 of 2: Syria TV published "pictures of the house that was targeted by the American forces at dawn today" on February 3rd 2022 (Image via Facebook)
  • 1 of 2: Syrian Civil Defense respond to the scene in the morning of February 3rd 2022 after a US air raid (Image via Syria TV)
  • 2 of 2: Syrian Civil Defense respond to the scene in the morning of February 3rd 2022 after a US air raid (Image via Syria TV)
  • "All that's left of the home the COalition targeted" (Video via @NotWoofers)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A young girl wounded in the fighting after a US air drop operation targeted a house in Dayr Balut on February 3rd 2022 in the early hours of the morning. Reports indicate that at least eleven civilians were killed (Image via @NotWoofers) / Twitter)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    1 of 4: Pictures showed the remains of child victims after a US air drop which has reportedly killed at least eleven civilians, including at least six children (Image via Shaam)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    2 of 4: Pictures showed the remains of child victims after a US air drop which has reportedly killed at least eleven civilians, including at least six children (Image via Shaam)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    3 of 4: Pictures showed the remains of child victims after a US air drop which has reportedly killed at least eleven civilians, including at least six children (Image via Shaam)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    4 of 4: Pictures showed the remains of child victims after a US air drop which has reportedly killed at least eleven civilians, including at least six children (Image via Shaam)
  • 1 of 7: Shaam news uploaded photographs of the destruction and remains of the house which was targeted by a US air drop operation on February 3rd in the Atma region of northern Syria (Image via Facebook)
  • 2 of 7: Shaam news uploaded photographs of the destruction and remains of the house which was targeted by a US air drop operation on February 3rd in the Atma region of northern Syria (Image via Facebook)
  • 3 of 7: Shaam news uploaded photographs of the destruction and remains of the house which was targeted by a US air drop operation on February 3rd in the Atma region of northern Syria (Image via Facebook)
  • 4 of 7: Shaam news uploaded photographs of the destruction and remains of the house which was targeted by a US air drop operation on February 3rd in the Atma region of northern Syria (Image via Facebook)
  • 5 of 7: Shaam news uploaded photographs of the destruction and remains of the house which was targeted by a US air drop operation on February 3rd in the Atma region of northern Syria (Image via Facebook)
  • 6 of 7: Shaam news uploaded photographs of the destruction and remains of the house which was targeted by a US air drop operation on February 3rd in the Atma region of northern Syria (Image via Facebook)
  • 7 of 7: Shaam news uploaded photographs of the destruction and remains of the house which was targeted by a US air drop operation on February 3rd in the Atma region of northern Syria (Image via Facebook)
  • Shaam news uploaded photographs of the destruction and remains of the house which was targeted by a US air drop operation on February 3rd in the Atma region of northern Syria (Image via Facebook)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    1 of 4: Photos of those killed and their remains after a US forces airdrop on February 3rd 2022 in Atma, Idlib (Image via @ahmedalqaaa / Twitter)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    2 of 4: Photos of those killed and their remains after a US forces airdrop on February 3rd 2022 in Atma, Idlib (Image via @ahmedalqaaa / Twitter)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    3 of 4: Photos of those killed and their remains after a US forces airdrop on February 3rd 2022 in Atma, Idlib (Image via @ahmedalqaaa / Twitter)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    4 of 4: Photos of those killed and their remains after a US forces airdrop on February 3rd 2022 in Atma, Idlib (Image via @ahmedalqaaa / Twitter)
  • Wreckage of the US helicopter which allegedly participated in the air drop operation (Image via @Ali9aa9 / Twitter)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    "One of the targetes in the landing of Atma" (Image via @Ali9aa9 / Twitter)
  • "The killing of Abu Satif Zaidan of the Al-Jolani Authority, shot by the #coalition, when he was near the target place for the landing in #Atma." (Image via @mzmgr941 / Twitter)
  • A picture of a child allegedly killed in the US air drop on February 3rd 2022 (Image via @MzmjerSh / Twitter)
  • 1 of 3: "Remnants of the airdrop of the American occupation in the town of Atma on the Syrian-Turkish border." (Image via @jamlyyyyy_ / Twitter)
  • 2 of 3: "Remnants of the airdrop of the American occupation in the town of Atma on the Syrian-Turkish border." (Image via @jamlyyyyy_ / Twitter)
  • 3 of 3: "Remnants of the airdrop of the American occupation in the town of Atma on the Syrian-Turkish border." (Image via @jamlyyyyy_ / Twitter)
  • Syrian Civil Defense report that at least 13 people were killed in an US air drop operation on February 3rd 2022 (SCD / Facebook)
  • Drone footage of the location of the US air raid on February 3rd 2022 (Euphrates / Facebook)
  • Drone footage of the location of the US air raid on February 3rd 2022 (Euphrates / Facebook)
  • Footage of site where US air raid took place on February 3rd 2022 (Andalou Agency)
  • The site of US air raid on February 3rd 2022 (Syrian Network for Human Rights)
  • Syrian Civil Defense attend rescue mission after US air raid on February 3rd 2022 (Syrian Network for Human Rights)
  • Hipa Press reported from the site of US air raid on February 3rd 2022.
  • Hipa Press reported from the site of US air raid on February 3rd 2022.
  • Hipa Press reported from the site of US air raid on February 3rd 2022.
  • Destruction and remnants of US air raid on February 3rd 2022 (Image via Anadolu Agency / Ezzedine Al-Qasim)
  • Destruction and remnants of US air raid on February 3rd 2022 (Image via Anadolu Agency / Ezzedine Al-Qasim)
  • Destruction and remnants of US air raid on February 3rd 2022 (Image via Anadolu Agency / Ezzedine Al-Qasim)
  • Destruction and remnants of US air raid on February 2nd 2022 (Image via Anadolu Agency / Ezzedine Al-Qasim)
  • Destruction after the US air raid near Atma on February 3rd 2022 (Image via Rozana / Facebook)
  • Destruction after the US air raid near Atma on February 3rd 2022 (Image via Rozana / Facebook)
  • Destruction after the US air raid near Atma on February 3rd 2022 (Image via Rozana / Facebook)
  • Destruction after the US air raid near Atma on February 3rd 2022 (Image via Rozana / Facebook)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Abdullah Qardash, the leader of ISIS, declared killed during a US-air raid (Image via Ahmad Rahhal / Facebook)
  • Abdullah Qardash, the leader of ISIS, declared killed during a US-air raid (Image via Ahmad Rahhal / Facebook)
  • The wreckage of the US helicopter during US raid on Atma on February 3rd 2022 (Image via @GHpeFLa8lXjtE5X / Twitter)
  • The wreckage of the US helicopter during US raid on Atma on February 3rd 2022 (Image via @GHpeFLa8lXjtE5X / Twitter)
  • The wreckage of the US helicopter during US raid on Atma on February 3rd 2022 (Image via @GHpeFLa8lXjtE5X / Twitter)
  • The wreckage of the US helicopter during US raid on Atma on February 3rd 2022 (Image via @GHpeFLa8lXjtE5X / Twitter)
  • The wreckage of the US helicopter during US raid on Atma on February 3rd 2022 (Image via @Step_Agency/ Twitter)
    Hello
  • The wreckage of the US helicopter during US raid on Atma on February 3rd 2022 (Image via @Step_Agency/ Twitter)
  • The wreckage of the US helicopter during US raid on Atma on February 3rd 2022 (Image via @Step_Agency/ Twitter)
  • The wreckage of the US helicopter during US raid on Atma on February 3rd 2022 (Image via @Step_Agency/ Twitter)

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention a raid on a house in the town of Atma (أطمة). Analyzing audio-visual material from sources, we narrowed down the location to the following coordinates: 36.318883, 36.681660.

{"type":"FeatureCollection","features":[{"type":"Feature","properties":{"label":"Exact Location","label-type":"black-white"},"geometry":{"type":"Point","coordinates":[36.68166,36.318883]}},{"type":"Feature","properties":{"label":"A","label-type":"white-red","stroke":"#ff0000","stroke-width":1,"stroke-opacity":1,"fill-opacity":0},"geometry":{"type":"Polygon","coordinates":[[[36.68060302734375,36.318758122135414],[36.681241393089294,36.318758122135414],[36.681241393089294,36.31903907088507],[36.68060302734375,36.31903907088507],[36.68060302734375,36.318758122135414]]]}},{"type":"Feature","properties":{"label":"B","label-type":"white-red","stroke":"#ff0000","stroke-width":1,"stroke-opacity":1,"fill-opacity":0},"geometry":{"type":"Polygon","coordinates":[[[36.681246757507324,36.318781894761145],[36.68146938085556,36.318781894761145],[36.68146938085556,36.31896343093671],[36.681246757507324,36.31896343093671],[36.681246757507324,36.318781894761145]]]}},{"type":"Feature","properties":{"label":"C","label-type":"white-red","stroke":"#ff0000","stroke-width":1,"stroke-opacity":1,"fill-opacity":0},"geometry":{"type":"Polygon","coordinates":[[[36.681565940380096,36.3187689278753],[36.68182611465454,36.3187689278753],[36.68182611465454,36.31897207550595],[36.681565940380096,36.31897207550595],[36.681565940380096,36.3187689278753]]]}},{"type":"Feature","properties":{"label":"D","label-type":"white-red","stroke":"#ff0000","stroke-width":1,"stroke-opacity":1,"fill-opacity":0},"geometry":{"type":"Polygon","coordinates":[[[36.68199509382248,36.31877108902307],[36.68226331472397,36.31877108902307],[36.68226331472397,36.31896126979426],[36.68199509382248,36.31896126979426],[36.68199509382248,36.31877108902307]]]}},{"type":"Feature","properties":{"label":"E","label-type":"white-red","stroke":"#ff0000","stroke-width":1,"stroke-opacity":1,"fill-opacity":0},"geometry":{"type":"Polygon","coordinates":[[[36.68213188648223,36.31850742855001],[36.68243497610092,36.31850742855001],[36.68243497610092,36.318712738011634],[36.68213188648223,36.318712738011634],[36.68213188648223,36.31850742855001]]]}},{"type":"Feature","properties":{"label":"F","label-type":"white-red","stroke":"#ff0000","stroke-width":1,"stroke-opacity":1,"fill-opacity":0},"geometry":{"type":"Polygon","coordinates":[[[36.681713461875916,36.31829347390405],[36.682201623916626,36.31829347390405],[36.682201623916626,36.31851607316982],[36.681713461875916,36.31851607316982],[36.681713461875916,36.31829347390405]]]}}]}

  • Imagery:
    Euphrates

US Forces Assessment:

  • Known belligerent
    US Forces
  • US Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Civilian casualty statements

US Forces
  • Nov 3, 2023

  • February 03, 2022, near Atma, Syria, via Airwars report. This allegation is closed as a duplicate because the potentially corroborating operation is being assessed in Open Report No. 4. 3321/CS1977 37SBA9188021812

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9 – 13
  • (6 children4 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Known attacker
    US Forces
  • Known target
    ISIS
  • Belligerents reported killed
    4–5

Sources (62) [ collapse]

Incident Code

USSOM370

Incident date

January 29, 2023

Location

between Tawakal and Garasjered, Lower Shabelle, Somalia

Geolocation

1.822314, 44.586645 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Additional Geolocations

1.779953, 44.635645 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

136 al-Shabaab fighters were killed and up to 98 others were injured in an operation carried out by the Somali government and international partners between Tawakal and Garasjered in Lower Shabelle region on January 29, 2023.

BBC News quoted the Somali government who said that 136 al-Shabaab fighters, including top commanders, were killed in a joint operation carried out with Somalia’s international partners.

Caasimada Online News quoted Deputy Minister of Information, Abdirahman Yusuf Al-Adala added that 90 other members of al-Shabaab were also wounded and that the operation took place in a jungle between Tawakal and Garasjered, 12km west of Janale district in the Lower Shabelle region. A tweet from @JournalistAadan put the number of injuries at 98.

Caasimada Online News also provided the names of some of the high-ranking leaders: Salman Dhere, responsible for the group’s coastal operations, and Moallim Salahey, who was in charge of attacks on the towns of Awdhegle, Qoryolay, and Janale. Moallim Hashi, a leader in charge of the group’s operations in the Lower Shabelle region. The government claimed to also have destroyed a weapons cache, vehicles, and equipment for explosive devices.

While none of the source directly implicate the US in this operation, reference to international partners has in the past included US forces.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • 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 attacker
    US Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al-Shabaab
  • Belligerents reported killed
    136
  • Belligerents reported injured
    90–98

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the villages of Garasjered and Tawakal. The generic coordinates for Garasjered are: 1.822314, 44.586645. The generic coordinates for Tawakal are: 1.779953, 44.635645. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

US Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US Forces
  • US Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • 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 attacker
    US Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al-Shabaab
  • Belligerents reported killed
    136
  • Belligerents reported injured
    90–98

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

USSOM398

Incident date

August 20, 2023

Location

Buk Akable settlement, Hiran region, Somalia

Airwars assessment

Mepa News reported that according to local sources, US airstrikes on the Buk Akable settlement resulted in the death of three civilians, including women and children, and the injury of seven others. The source stated that Somalia government media was claiming that those killed were members of al-Shabaab and that AFRICOM has not released a statement on this incident.

No other sources were found to have reported on this incident.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1–2 children1–2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    7
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al-Shabaab

Sources (1) [ collapse]

US Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US Forces
  • US Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1–2 children1–2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    7
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al-Shabaab

Sources (1) [ collapse]