Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

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Incident Code

RS4533

Incident date

November 23, 2020

Location

البارة, Al Bara, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.68599, 36.54239 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian, a man, was reported killed and an unknown number of civilians sustained injuries as a result of alleged Regime, Russian and/or Iranian artillery shelling on the town of Al Bara in the Jabal Al-Zawiya area in the southern countryside of Idlib on November 23, 2020.

Baladi News and the Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR) reported that the belligerent struck civilian houses. Both sources also stated that the attack on Al Bara was a violation of the ceasefire agreement reached following consultations between the Turkish and Russian presidents, which came into effect on March 6, 2020.

Regarding civilian harm, Halab Today TV tweeted that “A civilian was killed in the town of Al-Bara in the southern countryside of Idlib, as a result of artillery shelling by the regime forces on the town.” Similarly, The Syrian Civil Defense reported that “[a] person was killed, after being seriously wounded in the head” and that “The Syrian Civil Defense team worked to transfer the injured to the nearest medical point to provide treatment, but he died of his serious injuries. Multiple sources, including Stormagency1 and @anasanas84, identified the victim a the young man Muhammad Eido Shartah.

The SNHR was the only sources reporting wounded, saying that “[a] man named as Muhammad Eidou Shartah was killed while other civilians were injured when Syrian regime artillery forces fired shells at houses in [Al Bara].

The SNHR also noted that “[a]ttacks of this nature spread terror and panic among civilians, leading them to flee their lands and homes in an attempt to reach safety, and forcibly displacing them, with the number of internally displaced persons within Syria now reaching approximately 6.5 million Syrian citizens in total.”

Sources were conflicted as to who was responsible for the attack with @HalabTodayTV and @aa_arabic attributing the attack to the Syrian Regime, while @anasanas84 and Scoop referred to Russia as having carried out the strike on Al Bara. @Ahmad_1alshble said that both Russia and the Regime were responsible for the attack and @Marea_Elshame blamed Russian and Iranian forces.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Muhammad Eidou Shartah محمد عيدو شرتح
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    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.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (20) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (9) [ collapse]

  • Caption translation: "A civilian martyr as a result of artillery and missile strikes from the Russian occupation militia and Bashar al-Assad's gangs on the town of Al-Bara in Jabal Al-Zawiya, south of Idlib."
  • One civilian was allegedly killed as a result of Russian or Syrian regime attacks on Al-Bara in Jabal Al-Zawiya on November 23rd 2020 (Image via @Ahmad_1alshble / Twitter)
  • The Syrian regime or Russian forces allegedly targeted Al-Bara on November 23rd 2020 (Image via @aa_arabic / Twitter)
  • The Syrian regime or Russian forces allegedly targeted Al-Bara on November 23rd 2020 (Image via @aa_arabic / Twitter)
  • The Syrian regime or Russian forces allegedly targeted Al-Bara on November 23rd 2020 (Image via @aa_arabic / Twitter)
  • The Syrian regime or Russian forces allegedly targeted Al-Bara on November 23rd 2020 (Image via @aa_arabic / Twitter)
  • Syrian Civil Defense reported that one person was killed by a Syrian regime or Russian artillery on November 23th 2020 (Image via Twitter)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    One civilian was reported to have been killed by Russian or Syrian regime artillery on November 23rd 2020 (Image via @Marea_Elshame / Twitter)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Al Bara (البارة), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.68599, 36.54239. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Syrian Regime Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Syrian Regime
  • Syrian Regime position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    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.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (20) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-170

Incident date

September 20, 2011

Location

سرت‎, Sirte, Libya

Geolocation

31.190547, 16.571441 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On September 20th, 2011, Reuters reported that a spokesman for Gaddafi stated that 151 civilians were killed due to shelling on Sirte.

This number was unable to be verified. Independent investigators later found that civilian casualty number reported by the Gaddafi regime were hugely inflated of fabricated.

NATO confirmed airstrikes on “1 Command and Control Node, 5 Surface to Air Missile Systems” near Sirte.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    151
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Known attacker
    NATO forces
  • Known target
    Gaddafi forces

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Sirte (سرت‎), for which the generic coordinates are: 31.190547, 16.571441. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

NATO forces Assessment:

  • Known belligerent
    NATO forces
  • NATO forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

NATO forces
Official source

In the vicinity of Sirte: 1 Command and Controle Node, 5 Surface to Air Missile Systems.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    151
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Known attacker
    NATO forces
  • Known target
    Gaddafi forces

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

USSOM050

Incident date

April 6, 2016

Location

جيليب, Al Shabaab police station and vicinity in Jillib, Middle Juba, Somalia

Geolocation

0.494527, 42.777868 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

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.”

An AFRICOM spokesperson confirmed this as a US attack via email to the Bureau of Investigative Journalism (BIJ):

“On April 6, the US conducted self-defence fires against an al Shabaab anti-aircraft vehicle in southern Somalia which posed an imminent threat to US personnel. US Forces are working closely with partner forces to combat al Shabaab in Somalia.

Al Shabaab has pledged allegiance to al Qaeda and continues to use its safe havens throughout Somalia to plot attacks against US persons and interests in East Africa, as well as against our international partners in the region.

The US is committed to supporting Somali and Amisom forces as they combat al Shabaab and work to bring stability to the region.”

The statement made no mention of civilian harm.

The incident occured during the night.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Known attacker
    US Forces
  • Known target
    Al-Shabaab
  • Belligerents reported killed
    8

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Jilib (جيليب), for which the generic coordinates are: 0.494527, 42.777868. Due to limited information and satellite imagery available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

US Forces Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

US Forces
Official source

On April 6, the US conducted self-defence fires against an al Shabaab anti-aircraft vehicle in southern Somalia which posed an imminent threat to US personnel. US Forces are working closely with partner forces to combat al Shabaab in Somalia. Al Shabaab has pledged allegiance to al Qaeda and continues to use its safe havens throughout Somalia to plot attacks against US persons and interests in East Africa, as well as against our international partners in the region. The US is committed to supporting Somali and Amisom forces as they combat al Shabaab and work to bring stability to the region.

Pentagon spokesperson via email but could not be confirmed by Airwars

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Known attacker
    US Forces
  • Known target
    Al-Shabaab
  • Belligerents reported killed
    8

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

YS097

Incident date

February 8, 2021

Location

الباب, Al Bab, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.371244, 37.515772 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One child was killed and nine civilians injured in alleged YPG or Syrian regime artillery shelling on the city of Al Bab, Aleppo governorate on February the 8th.

At the start, local sources reported that at least nine civilians, including at least four children and three women, were injured in alleged YPG or Syrian regime artillery strikes on the city of Al Bab, Aleppo governorate, on February 8th, 2021. Some of the victims remain in critical condition.

Howeber, on February 12th, the Syrian Network for Human Rights, Macro Media Center and @mohamed1aldaher reported that child Taim Maatarmawi died on February 12th of injuries he sustained on February 8th.

According to the Syrian Civil Defence (@SyriaCivilDefe), “10 civilians, including four children and two women, were wounded, some of them in critical condition, today, Monday, February 8, by an unknown-source missile strike, on the city of Al Bab in the eastern countryside of Aleppo. Our teams rescued the injured and worked to secure the place.”

According to a correspondent for Enab Baladi, the bombing took place around 6:30 PM and came from areas controlled by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). @zakaria19972 tweeted: “10 wounded, including four children and three women, as a result of the YPG militia targeting the city of Al Bab, northeast of Aleppo, with missiles.”

Shahed Agency wrote that eight civilians were injured as the results from strikes with five missiles by the Qasd Militia, stationed in the outskirts of the city. Shahed Agency’s correspondent said that “civil defence teams transported the injured from the targeted places to the hospital in the city, and also recovered a wounded child from under the rubble as a result of the collapse of the house wall due to the bombing.”

The Syrian Arab News Agency, affiliated to the Syrian regime, wrote that “violent clashes with heavy weapons broke out this evening between the Turkish occupation forces and their mercenaries on the one hand and the “Qasd militia” on the other hand, causing the injury of at least 14 civilians, including 5 children and three women, and material losses to the homes, properties, and public properties of the people in the city of Al Bab and several villages in its vicinity.” It is unclear if the injury toll only includes civilian casualties in Al Bab.

Ahmad Ali Makra published the names of nine injured civilians, including four children and three women, on Facebook. @seerij80 posted a photo of an injured child on the ICU as the result of the strikes.

Shaam News Agency reported ten wounded, including a woman in a critical condition and four children, as the result of shelling on civilian residential areas. The missiles reportedly came from “the area of ​Al Sukkariyya and Al Urimah, which is considered a common area between the Assad regime and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).”

The Syrian Network for Human Rights said “A three-year-old child, named as Taim Obadah M’atramawi, from Ma’aret al Numan city in the southern suburbs of Idlib governorate, died on February 12th, 2021, due to wounds sustained on February 8th, 2021, when a Syrian regime missile launcher shelled a residential area in al Bab city in the eastern suburbs of the governorate. SNHR can confirm that the area attacked is a civilian area and is free of any military presence or equipment.”

@OtmanAlkneter reported nine injured, and said that the following areas had been targeted: “The side of the Great Mosque, beside Azraq Pharmacy” and “near El Kurdi Generator”. @IdlibPlus mentioned the use of rocket-propelled grenades.

While a few sources did not attribute blame for the strikes, most sources blamed the YPG for targeting the city of Al Bab. However, the Syrian Network for Human Rights blamed the Syrian regime for this incident. The source said “Syrian regime forces used a missile launcher to shell al Bab city in the eastern suburbs of Aleppo governorate on February 8th, with the missiles that landed in residential areas and near the city’s al Kabir Mosque. As a result, ten civilians, including a child, were injured, while a number of residential buildings were partially destroyed and the mosque’s structure and furniture were partially damaged on February 8th.”

Also the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights accused the Syrian regime, backed by Russian forces, of responsibility for the casualties and the incident. The source said that casualties took place as a result of “artillery shelling by the Manbij Military Council forces, which were carried out at Russian orders, on the town of Al-Bab, an area under the control of Turkish-backed factions in eastern Aleppo countryside.”

Shaam Network didn’t rule out a Syrian regime’s involvement in this incident when they said that missiles were fired from the area of ​​al-Sukkariyya and al-Urimah, considered a common area between the Assad regime and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

The incident occured at approximately 6:30 pm local time.

The victims were named as:

Family members (4)

Sumaya Moatamarawi سمية معترماوي
55 years old female injured
Taim Moatamarawi تيم معترماوي
3 years old male Died of his injuries four days later killed
Huthaifa Moatamarawi حذيفة معترماوي
24 years old male injured
Abd Al Qadir Moatamarawi عبد القادر معترماوي
58 years old male injured

The victims were named as:

Ahmed Al Sufi أحمد الصوفي
17 years old male injured
Saleh Al Durra صالح الدرة
11 years old male injured
Yasmine Darwish ياسمين درويش
37 years old female injured
Aya Hammoud ايه حمود
20 years old female injured
Sireen Hamdan سيرين حمدان
7 years old female injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    9–14
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attackers
    YPG, Syrian Regime
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (29) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (38) [ collapse]

  • Medical staff helping an injured child after alleged YPG strikes on the city of Al Bab, Aleppo governorate, on February 8th, 2021 (via Enad Baladi).
  • Translation: “10 wounded, including four children and three women, as a result of the YPG militia targeting the city of Al-Bab, northeast of Aleppo, with missiles” (via @zakaria19972).
  • An injured child receiving medical help after alleged YPG strikes on the city of Al Bab, Aleppo governorate, on February 8th, 2021 (via @zakaria19972).
  • Remnants of one of the missiles reportedly used in alleged YPG strikes on Al Bab on February 8th, 2021 (via @zakaria19972).
  • Aftermath of alleged YPG strikes on the city of Al Bab, Aleppo governorate, on February 8th, 2021 (via @zakaria19972).
  • Translation: “The first moments of our teams' response to the missile strikes that targeted the city of Al-Bab, east of Aleppo, which injured 10 civilians. Our team inspected the bombing sites and works to remove the effects of the explosion from the scene” (via @SyriaCivilDefe).
  • Translation: “10 civilians, including four children and two women, were injured, some of them in critical condition, as a result of bombing the city of Al-Bab in the eastern countryside of Aleppo” (via @fawaz_jwaid).
  • An injured man after alleged YPG artillery strikes on Al Bab on February 8th, 2021 (via @fawaz_jwaid).
  • Translation: “10 civilians, including four children and two women, were wounded, some of them in critical condition, today, Monday, February 8, by an unknown-source missile strike, which was hit by the city of Al Bab in the eastern countryside of Aleppo” (via @RaedAlSaleh3).
  • Civilians at the site after alleged YPG strikes on Al Bab, Aleppo governorate, on February 8th, 2021 (via @RaedAlSaleh3).
  • Remnants of artillery after alleged YPG strikes on Al Bab, Aleppo governorate, on February 8th, 2021 (via @RaedAlSaleh3).
  • Rubble being cleared form the site after alleged YPG strikes on Al Bab, Aleppo governorate, on February 8th, 2021 (via @RaedAlSaleh3).
  • Damage after alleged YPG strikes on Al Bab, Aleppo governorate, on February 8th, 2021 (via @RaedAlSaleh3).
  • Translation: “10 civilians, including four children and two women, were wounded, some of them in critical condition, today, Monday, February 8, by an unknown-source missile strike, on the city of Al-Bab in the eastern countryside of Aleppo. Our teams rescued the injured and worked to secure the place” (via @SyriaCivilDefe).
  • A Syrian Civil Defence volunteer at the site after alleged YPG strikes on Al Bab, February 8th, 2021 (via @SyriaCivilDefe).
  • Damage after alleged YPG strikes on Al Bab, Aleppo governorate, on February 8th, 2021 (via @SyriaCivilDefe).
  • Aftermath of missile strike on Al-Bab, Aleppo, Feb 8th, 2021. (via SCD)
  • Remnants of missiles used in strikes on Al-Bab in Aleppo, Feb 8th, 2021. (via SCD)
  • Translation: “Civilian casualties with missile strikes on the city of Al Bab in the eastern countryside of Aleppo. Our correspondent Malik Abu Ubaida and the details” (via @HalabTodayTV).
  • Translation: “Nine injuries, most of them children, as a result of the missile strikes that targeted residential neighborhoods in the city of Al Bab in the eastern countryside of Aleppo” (via @mohmad_rasheed).
  • Translation: “Part of the destruction caused by the missile strikes of the SDF on the city of Al Bab in the eastern countryside of Aleppo, which resulted in the injury of eight civilians, including children” (via @ShahedagencyAr).
  • Remnants of a missile after alleged YPG strikes on Al Bab on February 8th, 2021 (via @ShahedagencyAr).
  • Aftermath of alleged YPG strikes on Al Bab on February 8th, 2021 (via @ShahedagencyAr).
  • Rescue workers at the site after alleged YPG strikes on Al Bab on February 8th, 2021 (via @ShahedagencyAr).
  • Remnants of a missile after alleged YPG strikes on Al Bab on February 8th, 2021 (via @ShahedagencyAr).
  • Aftermath of alleged YPG strikes on Al Bab on February 8th, 2021 (via @fawaz_jwaid).
  • An injured child after alleged YPG strikes on Al Bab, Aleppo governorate, on February 8th, 2021 (via @fawaz_jwaid).
  • Remnants after alleged YPG strikes on Al Bab, Aleppo governorate, on February 8th, 2021 (via @fawaz_jwaid).
  • An injured child receiving medical help after alleged YPG strikes on Al Bab, Aleppo governorate, on February 8th, 2021 (via @fawaz_jwaid).
  • Translation: “Several explosions in residential neighborhoods in the city of Al Bab, east of Aleppo, were caused by unidentified rocket shells, and news of a number of civilian casualties” (via @MNoaymi).
  • Photo of alleged YPG strikes on Al Bab, Aleppo governorate, on February 8th, 2021 (via @MNoaymi).
  • Translation: “Remnants of rockets and the resulting destruction in the city of Al Bab in the eastern countryside of Aleppo” (via @ZaitunAgency).
  • Remnants of a missile after alleged YPG strikes on Al Bab on February 8th, 2021 (via @ZaitunAgency).
  • Remnants of the weapon used in alleged YPG strikes on Al Bab on February 8th, 2021 (via @ZaitunAgency).
  • Remnants of a missile after alleged YPG strikes on Al Bab on February 8th, 2021 (via @ZaitunAgency).
  • Translation: “The city of Al Bab, east of Aleppo, was subjected to direct bombardment by the PKK militia on the gatherings of our civilians, causing injuries, and this is a picture of an injured child in intensive care” (via @seerij80).
  • An injured child in the ICU after alleged YPG strikes on Al Bab, Aleppo governorate, on February 8th, 2021 (via @seerij80).

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Al Bab (الباب), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.371244, 37.515772. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

YPG Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    YPG
  • YPG position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Syrian Regime Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Syrian Regime
  • Syrian Regime position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    9–14
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attackers
    YPG, Syrian Regime
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (29) [ collapse]

Incident Code

USSOM092

Incident date

September 12–13, 2017

Location

حرمك, Kunya Barrow, Middle Juba, Somalia

Geolocation

0.7928186, 43.3841839 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

The US carried out an air strike on September 13th, killing six al Shabaab members, according to a press release from US Africa Command.

The strike took place at approximately 0215 local time (1115 GMT), hitting an area in southern Somalia about 260km south of the capital, AFRICOM said.

The original press release said three strikes took place. However, a spokesperson told the Bureau of Investigative Journalism that AFRICOM had later changed how it classified airstrikes in October and that the three attacks carried out in this operation were now seen as constituting a single strike operation.

Military Times noted that “U.S. officials overseeing the U.S. mission in Africa would not describe the air assets involved in these strikes. ‘We have a range of capabilities at various locations in the region that will allow us to carry out these airstrikes, including manned and unmanned platforms,’ said Robyn Mack, a spokesperson for AFRICOM.”

The attack was carried out under the parameters of authorities granted by President Trump in March. This gave US commanders greater freedom to launch strikes and raids in a geographically-defined area for at least 180 days.

In a Freedom of Information response obtained by journalist Joshua Eaton in May 2019, AFRICOM placed the date of this action on September 12th – and said that it had targeted al Shabaab fighters in the vicinity of Kunyo Barrow.

The incident occured at approximately 2:15 am local time.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Known attacker
    US Forces
  • Known target
    Al-Shabaab
  • Belligerents reported killed
    6

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention that the strike occurred in the vicinity of the village Kunya Barrow, 260 kilometers from Mogadishu, in Southern Somalia. The coordinates for Kunya Barrow are: 0.7928186, 43.3841839. Due to limited information and satellite imagery available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

US Forces Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

US Forces
Official source

In coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia, U.S. forces conducted three (3) precision airstrikes in Somalia against al-Shabaab on Wed., Sept. 13 at approximately 2:15 a.m. local Somalia time, killing six (6) terrorists.

The operation occurred in southern Somalia, about 260 kilometers south of the capital, Mogadishu. The U.S. conducted this operation within the parameters of the authorities granted by the President in March 2017, which allows U.S. forces to conduct lethal action against al-Shabaab within a geographically-defined area in support of partner forces in Somalia.

Al-Shabaab has pledged allegiance to al-Qaeda and is dedicated to providing safe haven for terrorist attacks throughout the world. Al-Shabaab has publicly committed to planning and conducting attacks against the U.S. and our partners in the region.

U.S. forces will continue to use all authorized and appropriate measures to protect Americans and to disable terrorist threats. This includes partnering with AMISOM and Somali National Security Forces (SNSF); targeting terrorists, their training camps and safe havens throughout Somalia, the region and around the world.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Known attacker
    US Forces
  • Known target
    Al-Shabaab
  • Belligerents reported killed
    6

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-199

Incident date

October 5, 2011

Location

سرت‎, Sirte, Libya

Geolocation

31.20892, 16.58866 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On October 5th, 2011, a single Moroccan woman was reported to have been injured by a mortar shell in Sirte. The mortar was suspected to have been fired by Libyan rebel forces. Multiple sources reported on the injury of the woman, although no additional information was provided.

An al-Jamahiriya post stated that “A Moroccan woman was wounded after a mortar shell fell on her home in Sirte.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Libyan rebel forces
  • Suspected target
    Gaddafi forces

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Sirte (سرت), for which the generic coordinates are: 31.20892, 16.58866 Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Libyan rebel forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Libyan rebel forces
  • Libyan rebel forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Libyan rebel forces
  • Suspected target
    Gaddafi forces

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

USSOM126

Incident date

April 16, 2018

Location

ليغو, Leego, Lower Shabelle, Somalia

Geolocation

2.71437, 44.50902 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

US 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 by Voice of America as a strategic town in the Lower Shabelle region, located 120 kilometers from Mogadishu. Al Shabaab fighters retook the town in August last year (2017).

In a subsequent FOIA response obtained by journalist Joshua Eaton in May 2019, AFRICOM  confirmed it had targeted on this date what it says were “al-Shabaab Fighters”, in the vicinity of Leego, Somalia.

No additional details are presently known for this event.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Known attacker
    US Forces
  • Known target
    Al-Shabaab

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention that the strike took place in the vicinity of Leego (ليغو), for which the coordinates are: 2.71437, 44.50902 Due to limited information and satellite imagery available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

US Forces Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

US Forces

Via email from Africom to BIJ, May 1st,, 2018:

"April 16: In coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia, U.S. forces conducted an airstrike against al-Shabaab militants on April 16 near Leego, Somalia. No terrorists were killed and no equipment was destroyed in this strike. "

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Known attacker
    US Forces
  • Known target
    Al-Shabaab

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-209

Incident date

October 25, 2011

Location

طرابلس‎, Tripoli, Libya

Geolocation

32.886602, 13.190912 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two men died on October 25, 2011 after being detained in rebel custody in Tripoli on October 25, 2011 according to the UN Report Source Page 81.

One man, a member of Gaddafi’s security forces, was arrested by the rebels on September 11, 2011 and held in the former Internal Security Agency building in central Tripoli. His family received a call from a Tripoli hospital and when they arrived he was dead, with the cause of death being heart and kidney failure triggered by beatings and videos show that the victim had severe bruising, missing flesh, whip marks, and open wounds.

Another man died from torture 10 days after he was arrested without a warrant or cause by rebels in his neighborhood. The autopsy showed that his death was the result of severe beatings all over his body.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 men1 other protected person)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Small arms and light weapons
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected target
    Libyan rebel forces

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Tripoli (طرابلس‎), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.886602, 13.190912. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 men1 other protected person)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Small arms and light weapons
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected target
    Libyan rebel forces

Sources (1) [ collapse]