Incident date
March 12, 2018
LOCATION
Kamsuuma, Lower Juba, SomaliaAFRICOM said that it had carried out a strike on “al Shabaab fighters in the vicinity of Kamsuuma” on March 12th. It made no mention of civilian harm. The US had already carried out ten strikes since the start of the year, a US Africa Command spokesperson confirmed to the Bureau of Investigative Journalism (BIJ)
Summary
Incident date
March 13, 2018
LOCATION
Vicinity of Jamecco and Singulle, Middle Shabelle, SomaliaA US airstrike killed 12 al Shabaab militants and wounded another 15 members as Jamecco, Middle Shabelle was struck, AFRICOM reported. The US carried had carried out ten strikes since the start of the year, a US Africa Command spokesperson confirmed to the Bureau of Investigative Journalism (BIJ) at the start of April, which had
Summary
Incident date
March 19, 2018
LOCATION
مبارك, Mubaraak, Lower Shabelle, SomaliaAFRICOM publicly reported that two days earlier, it had “conducted an airstrike against al-Shabaab on the morning of March 19 near Mubaarak, Somalia”. The press release made no mention of civilian harm. However, AFRICOM claimed that the airstrike killed “two terrorists”, wounded another “three terrorists” and destroyed “one vehicle”. Voice of America reported the following:
Summary
Incident date
April 1, 2018
LOCATION
Ceel Buur, Mudug, SomaliaUp to four civilians, including one child and one woman, were killed along with up to five al Shabaab fighters as a US airstrike struck El Burr, Galmudug, international media reported. Following a year of denials, US Africa Command admitted in April 2019 that civilians had in fact died in the event – and that
Summary
Incident date
April 5, 2018
LOCATION
جيليب, Jilib, Middle Juba, SomaliaAFRICOM reported that the previous day it had “conducted an airstrike against Al-Shabaab militants near Jilib, Somalia, the afternoon of April 5”. It added: “We assess no civilians were killed in this airstrike.” However, AFRICOM claimed that the airstrike killed “three (3) terrorists” and destroyed “one (1) vehicle with a mounted heavy machine gun.” In a
Summary
Incident date
April 11, 2018
LOCATION
Jana Cabdalle, Lower Shabelle, SomaliaAFRICOM reported that two days previously it had “conducted an airstrike destroying an al-Shabaab vehicle-borne improvised explosive device near Jana Cabdalle, Somalia, on the afternoon of April 11.” AFRICOM made no mention of civilian harm. Additionally, AFRICOM did not state whether any belligerents had been killed in this strike. In a subsequent FOIA response obtained by
Summary
Incident date
April 16, 2018
LOCATION
ليغو, Leego, Lower Shabelle, SomaliaUS forces carried out a strike against al Shabaab militants on April 16th near Leego, an Africa Command spokesperson told the Bureau of Investigative Journalism in early May. AFRICOM made no mention of civilian harm. An AFRICOM spokespersons noted that “No terrorists were killed and no equipment was destroyed in this strike.” Leego is described
Summary
Incident date
May 9, 2018
LOCATION
Bulcida Macalinka (northeast), Lower Shabelle, SomaliaFive civilians were reportedly killed in a US and/or Somali-waged ground operation – possibly also involving airpower – in the Lower Shabelle region, local and international media reported. The US denied allegations of harm on several occasions. The raid was reportedly carried out by Somalia commandos, with the US saying American troops supported the mission
Summary
Incident date
May 23, 2018
LOCATION
Arbiska, Lower Shabelle, SomaliaA late night US strike on the village of Arbiska was reported by Radio Shabelle. According to the local news outlet, “Suspected American fighter jets were reported to have carried out an overnight airstrike in Lower Shabelle region, targeting Al-Shabaab bases, residents said. The strike happened on the outskirt of Arbiska village, located near the capital,
Summary
Incident date
May 31, 2018
LOCATION
30 miles southwest of Mogadishu, Lower Shabelle, SomaliaAFRICOM reported on the same day that it had “conducted an airstrike targeting al-Shabaab militants approximately 30 miles southwest of Mogadishu, Somalia, on May 31”. It added: “We currently assess no civilians were injured or killed in this airstrike.” However, AFRICOM claimed that the airstrike killed “twelve (12) terrorists”. In a subsequent FOIA response obtained by
Summary
Incident date
May 29, 2018
LOCATION
Bariire, Lower Shabelle, SomaliaA suspected airstrike in a field outside Bariire, a village 30 miles west of Mogadishu, killed three boys and left one woman injured, according to The National. Journalist Amanda Sperber met Halimo Mohamed Abdi, a herder who was injured in the action: “The blast broke both her hips, left shrapnel embedded in her thigh, and
Summary
Incident date
June 2, 2018
LOCATION
Galgala mountains, 26 miles southwest of Bosaso, Bari, SomaliaOn June 4th 2018, AFRICOM reported that it had “conducted an airstrike targeting al-Shabaab militants approximately 26 miles southwest of Bosasso, Somalia, on June 2”. It added: “We currently assess no civilians were injured or killed in this airstrike.” However, AFRICOM claimed that the airstrike killed “twenty-seven (27) terrorists.” As Voice of America noted, “Saturday’s airstrike
Summary
Incident date
June 3, 2018
LOCATION
24 miles southwest of Bosaso, Bari, SomaliaUS Africa Command told the Bureau of Investigative Journalism (BIJ) in July 2018 that it had carried out two strikes in early June – one previously undisclosed. The second took place on June 3rd, and targeted members of al Shabaab approximately 24 miles southwest of Bosasso, according to AFRICOM. “We currently assess no terrorists and
Summary
Incident date
June 8, 2018
LOCATION
Baar, Lower Juba, SomaliaAn American Special Forces soldier was killed – later named as Staff Sergeant Alexander Conrad – and four others were wounded in an attack by al Shabaab fighters in Jubaland. A member of a partner force was also killed or injured. The US soldiers were among a large force of 800 Somali and Kenyan soldiers
Summary
Incident date
July 10, 2018
LOCATION
Jawaari, Middle Juba, SomaliaAn airstrike near the village of Jawaari was variously blamed on US and Kenyan forces. Mareeg, a Somali news outlet, reported a strike by unidentified jets which it said had potentially killed eight members of al Shabaab. The terror group itself reportedly denied that any of its fighters were killed. The source of Mareeg’s information
Summary
Incident date
July 22, 2018
LOCATION
Marka, Lower Shabelle, SomaliaA strike reportedly hit a village outside Marka, a city around 60 miles south of Mogadishu, according to a field investigation by a reporter for The Nation. There were no reports of immediate civilian harm, though a man reportedly died of a heart attack following the violence. Airwars has placed this event in a date
Summary
Incident date
July 24, 2018
LOCATION
Qalimow, Middle Shabelle, SomaliaUnknown aircraft were reported to have struck the vicinity of Qalimow village about 60km north of Mogadishu on the night of July 24th-25th. Villagers told local media that several missiles had targeted Al-Shabab vehicles. The attack – which almost all sources said was by drone – followed the recent recapture of Qalimow from Somalia forces.
Summary
Incident date
July 23, 2018
LOCATION
Baar Sanguni, 50 km north of Kismayo, Lower Juba, SomaliaUS forces carried out a strike against al Shabaab in an area around 50 kilometres north of Kismayo, a US Africa Command spokesperson later told the Bureau of Investigative Journalism. Post-strike analysis had not revealed the number of militants killed, a US spokesperson told the Bureau in an email exchange on July 31st. The event
Summary
Incident date
August 2, 2018
LOCATION
Gobanle (Gobaale), Lower Shabelle, SomaliaThree civilians were reportedly killed in a US strike in Gobanle village, according to Amnesty International – though US Africa Command claimed that only four “terrorists” were killed. However an AFRICOM declassified assessment of the event published in July 2019 indicated that the US itself was unaware of the identities of those in the vehicle
Summary
Incident date
August 11, 2018
LOCATION
Leego, Lower Shabelle, SomaliaLocal reporters alleged that US and Somali forces had killed four civilians including a mother and child, during an operation in Leego. Caasimada alleged that the civilians were killed around midnight, by Somali troops accompanied by ‘white US officers’, and claimed that the attacking forces had flown there from a military base to the north.
Summary
Incident date
August 14, 2018
LOCATION
Vicinity of Baladul-Rahma and Geeshaan, near Basraa, Lower Shabelle, SomaliaIn a major Amnesty International report on civilian harm in Somalia, published in March 2019, the NGO made passing reference to a civilian harm event on August 14th the previous year in the vicinity of Baladul-Rahma and Geeshaan, near Basraa. According to the report, “on 14 August 2018, the US military conducted additional air strikes
Summary
Incident date
August 20, 2018
LOCATION
Basra, Lower Shabelle, SomaliaAn investigation by journalist Amanda Sperber identified a possible US airstrike near Basra around the time of Eid in August 2018, which allegedly killed between 10 and 12 members of the same family. Airwars has provided a relatively wide date range for this event, based on limited reporting. The investigation, published by The Nation in
Summary
Incident date
August 21, 2018
LOCATION
46 km northeast of Kismayo, Lower Juba, SomaliaUS forces carried out a strike on August 21st, killing two al Shabaab fighters, according to a press release from US Africa Command. The strike hit approximately 46 kilometers northeast of Kismayo, a port city in southern Somalia. The Command said it had assessed that no civilians were killed or injured in this strike. US
Summary
Incident date
August 27, 2018
LOCATION
40 km southwest of Mogadishu, Lower Shabelle, SomaliaUS forces carried out a strike on August 27th killing three alleged members of al Shabaab, US Africa Command declared two days later, The strike hit approximately 40 kilometers southwest of Mogadishu. The official statement read: “In coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia, U.S. forces conducted an airstrike targeting al-Shabaab militants approximately 40 kilometers
Summary
Incident date
September 11, 2018
LOCATION
مبارك, Mubaraak, Lower Shabelle, SomaliaIn a US strike in Mubaraak, two al Shabaab militants were killed along with a combatant with US partner forces, a US statement asserted the following day. Members of al Shabaab and the partner forces were also left wounded. US forces carried out a strike during a Somali partner forces-led operation against al Shabaab in
Summary
Incident date
September 19, 2018
LOCATION
سااكوو, Saakow, Middle Juba, SomaliaAt least three children were killed as up to 12 al Shabaab members were targeted and killed by a night time airstrike, local and international media reported – though it was unclear who was behind the attack. Several senior al Shabaab officials were killed or wounded in an airstrike, Somalia intelligence officials reportedly said. The
Summary
Incident date
September 21, 2018
LOCATION
50 km northwest of Kismayo, Lower Juba, SomaliaUS forces carried out a ‘self-defence strike’ against al Shabaab on September 21st approximately 50 km northwest of Kismayo and killing 18 al Shabaab members, according to a press release from US Africa Command. According to AFRICOM “The U.S. airstrike was conducted against militants after U.S. and partner forces came under attack. We currently assess
Summary
Incident date
October 1, 2018
LOCATION
Jamaame, Lower Juba, SomaliaUS forces carried out a strike approximately 40 kilometres northeast of Kismayo after al Shabaab fighters attacked Somali forces, according to a US Africa Command press release. Nine al Shabaab fighters were allegedly killed and another injured, the US command claimed. The press release said AFRICOM had assessed that no civilians were killed or injured
Summary
Incident date
October 2, 2018
LOCATION
Baasra, Lower Shabelle, SomaliaAccording to a single source, an airstrike by an unknown party hit the strategic village of Basra in Middle Shebelle. Goobjoog News stated that “Reports indicate that Airstrikes hit last night at Basra village in the Middle Shabelle Somalia. Residents of Basra village told Goobjoog News there were heavy attacks in the village amid reports
Summary
Incident date
October 4, 2018
LOCATION
Ceel Gadde, El Adde, Gedo, SomaliaOne woman and several children were wounded by an alleged US drone strike in El Adde town, Gedo, as up to ten al Shabaab members were targeted and killed, local media reported. Somali media site Mareeg reported that a US drone strike had injured women and children. Anonymous sources said the victims had been been