Civilian Casualty Archive

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Somalia

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U.S. Forces

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434 incidents

Incident Date

6 October 2018

Incident Code

USSOM150

Location

حرمك, Kunyo Barrow, Lower Shabelle, Somalia
AFRICOM reported that the day previously it had "conducted an airstrike targeting an al-Shabaab militant in the vicinity of Kunyo Barrow, Somalia, on October 6, 2018." It added: "We currently assess no civilians were injured or killed in this airstrike." However, AFRICOM claimed that the action killed "(1) terrorist". In a subsequent FOIA response obtained…

Summary

Published
6 October 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

12 October 2018

Incident Code

USSOM151

Location

Jowle, Mudug, Somalia
At least 60 and as many as 117 al Shabaab fighters were killed in a US strike on October 12th, it was reported. The location appears to have been a training camp, according to Voice of America, which noted: "A Somali official says the strike happened near the village of Jowle, about 20 kilometers southwest…

Summary

Published
12 October 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

14 October 2018

Incident Code

USSOM152

Location

Araara, Lower Juba, Somalia
Four al Shabaab fighters were killed as the US carried out a strike in Somalia in the vicinity of Araara, Lower Juba region, after partner forces came under attack from small arms fire, a US Africa Command press release stated. The press release called it a "collective self-defense airstrike." No US service members were apparently…

Summary

Published
14 October 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

25 October 2018

Incident Code

USSOM154

Location

حرمك, Vicinity of Kunyo Barrow, Lower Juba, Somalia
AFRICOM publicly reported that it had "conducted conducted an airstrike targeting al-Shabaab militants in the vicinity of Kunyo Barrow, Somalia, on October 25, 2018". It added: "We also currently assess this airstrike did not injure or kill any civilians." However, AFRICOM claimed that the airstrike "killed two (2) militants and destroyed one (1) vehicle." Voice…

Summary

Published
25 October 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

3 November 2018

Incident Code

USSOM155

Location

Somalia
Responding to allegations that it had conducted a November 18th airstrike on a radio station in Jilib, AFRICOM informed local media via Twitter that "it has not conducted an airstrike in Somalia since Nov. 3." There were no publicly reported strikes on this date, and Airwars has reached out to AFRICOM for clarification. https://twitter.com/USAfricaCommand/status/1064460036766863360?s=20

Summary

Published
3 November 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

18 November 2018

Incident Code

USSOM156-C

Location

Radio Andalus, Jilib, Middle Juba, Somalia
Airstrikes by an unknown party destroyed part of an al-Andalus radio station in Jilib - a propaganda service run by the terror group al Shabaab. At least one person described as a journalist was reported injured or killed. According to Middle East Monitor, "An air strike; believed to be American, has destroyed the Al-Andalus radio…

Summary

Published
18 November 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
Civilians reported killed
0–2
Civilians reported injured
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

19 November 2018

Incident Code

USSOM157

Location

Vicinity of Quy Cad near Debatscile/ Dabad Shil, Mudug, Somalia
AFRICOM reported that the previous day it had "conducted two (2) airstrikes in the vicinity of Debatscile, Somalia targeting al-Shabaab militants on November 19, 2018". This entry records the first of of these events. AFRICOM asserted that "We currently assess these airstrikes did not injure or kill any civilians." It also claimed that "the first…

Summary

Published
19 November 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

19 November 2018

Incident Code

USSOM158

Location

Debatcile, Mudug, Somalia
On November 20th 2019, AFRICOM reported that it had "conducted two (2) airstrikes in the vicinity of Debatscile, Somalia targeting al-Shabaab militants on November 19, 2018". These are recorded as separate events, with the other that day near Quy Cad. AFRICOM asserted: "We currently assess these airstrikes did not injure or kill any civilians." It…

Summary

Published
19 November 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

20 November 2018

Incident Code

USSOM159

Location

Caad, Mudug, Somalia
AFRICOM reported the following day that it had "conducted an airstrike targeting al-Shabaab militants in the vicinity of Quy Cad, Somalia on November 20, 2018." It added: "We currently assess this airstrike did not injure or kill any civilians." However, AFRICOM claimed that the airstrike "killed seven (7) militants". In a subsequent FOIA response obtained by…

Summary

Published
20 November 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

21 November 2018

Incident Code

USSOM160

Location

Jimo Luqunyar or Adaley, near Debatscile, Mudug, Somalia
AFRICOM reported that the previous day it had "conducted two (2) airstrikes in the vicinity of Haradere, Somalia on November 21, 2018." It added: "We currently assess these airstrikes did not injure or kill any civilians." However, AFRICOM claimed that "the first airstrike killed six (6) al-Shabaab militants and the second airstrike destroyed a weapons cache."…

Summary

Published
21 November 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

21 November 2018

Incident Code

USSOM161

Location

Either Jimo-Luqunyar or Adaley, near Debatscile, Mudug, Somalia
AFRICOM reported that the previous day it had "conducted two (2) airstrikes in the vicinity of Haradere, Somalia on November 21, 2018." It added: "We currently assess these airstrikes did not injure or kill any civilians." This assessment details the strike on the arms cache. Associated Press offered more detail on the attacks: "Somali intelligence…

Summary

Published
21 November 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

24 November 2018

Incident Code

USSOM162

Location

هرجيسا, Hargeysa Yarey, Middle Juba, Somalia
A strike was said to have killed 15 members of al Shabaab and injured another 30, according to the official Somali National News Agency (SONNA). It was not clear whether US forces carried out the strike from the reporting, but US Africa Command said US forces had not carried out a strike on that day.…

Summary

Published
24 November 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

27 November 2018

Incident Code

USSOM163

Location

Debatscile, Mudug, Somalia
AFRICOM reported that the previous day it had "conducted an airstrike targeting al-Shabaab militants in the vicinity of Quy Cad near Debatscile, Somalia on November 27, 2018". It added: "We currently assess this airstrike did not injure or kill any civilians." However, AFRICOM claimed that the airstrike had "killed three (3) militants". It added "This follows…

Summary

Published
27 November 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

30 November 2018

Incident Code

USSOM164

Location

Geelway mountain, Mudug, Somalia
AFRICOM reported that the previous day, it had "conducted an airstrike targeting al-Shabaab militants near Lebede, Somalia on November 30, 2018". It said that there had been no civilian harm. However, AFRICOM claimed that the airstrike had killed "nine (9) militants". Voice of America reporter Harun Maruf provided a more detailed location. "Statement says strike…

Summary

Published
30 November 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

4 December 2018

Incident Code

USSOM165

Location

Awdheegle, Lower Shabelle, Somalia
Four al Shabaab fighters were reported killed as the US carried out what it said was a self-defence strike in the vicinity of Awdheegle, Lower Shabelle, after US and partner forces came under attack, US Africa Command said in a statement. Associated Press gave a detailed report on the event: "Somali commandos backed by U.S.…

Summary

Published
4 December 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

8–9 December, 2018

Incident Code

USSOM166-C

Location

Baladul Rahma, Lower Shabelle, Somalia
One civilian was reportedly killed and another injured in a confirmed US airstrike in Baladul Rahma near Basra, Somalia according to a field investigation by Amnesty International - though US Africa Command continues to deny that any civilians were harmed. In a press release from AFRICOM issued at the time, it had said it carried…

Summary

Published
8 December 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
1–2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

15 December 2018

Incident Code

SOM121a

Location

غندرشي, Gandarshe, Lower Shabelle, Somalia
AFRICOM publicly reported four strikes on the same area on the same day – asserting that it had killed 34 al Shabaab militants in total in the vicinity of Gandarshe.  Another two strikes took place on December 16th, it said – killing another 28 militants. “All six airstrikes were conducted in close coordination with the…

Summary

Published
15 December 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

15 December 2018

Incident Code

USSOM170

Location

غندرشي, Gandarshe, Lower Shabelle, Somalia
AFRICOM publicly reported four strikes on the same area on the same day – asserting that it had killed 34 al Shabaab militants in total in the vicinity of Gandarshe.  Another two strikes took place on December 16th, it said – killing another 28 militants. “All six airstrikes were conducted in close coordination with the…

Summary

Published
15 December 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

15 December 2018

Incident Code

USSOM167

Location

غندرشي, Mountainous area near Gandarshe, Lower Shabelle, Somalia
AFRICOM publicly reported the first of four strikes on the same area on the same day - asserting that it had killed eight al Shabaab militants in the vicinity of Gandarshe. The tweet was issued shortly after noon GMT, indicating that the attack was earlier that morning. Two days later AFRICOM revealed that it had…

Summary

Published
15 December 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

15 December 2018

Incident Code

USSOM169

Location

غندرشي, Gandarshe, Lower Shabelle, Somalia
AFRICOM publicly reported four strikes on the same area on the same day – asserting that it had killed 34 al Shabaab militants in total in the vicinity of Gandarshe.  Another two strikes took place on December 16th, it said – killing another 28 militants. “All six airstrikes were conducted in close coordination with the…

Summary

Published
15 December 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

16 December 2018

Incident Code

USSOM172

Location

غندرشي, Gandarshe, Lower Shabelle, Somalia
AFRICOM publicly reported two strikes on the same area on the same day – asserting that it had killed 28 al Shabaab militants in total in the vicinity of Gandarshe.  Another four strikes took place at the same location the previous day on December 15th, it said – killing another 34 militants. “All six airstrikes…

Summary

Published
16 December 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

16 December 2018

Incident Code

USSOM171

Location

غندرشي, Gandarshe, Lower Shabelle, Somalia
AFRICOM publicly reported two strikes on the same area on the same day – asserting that it had killed 28 al Shabaab militants in total in the vicinity of Gandarshe.  Another four strikes took place at the same location the previous day on December 15th, it said – killing another 34 militants. “All six airstrikes…

Summary

Published
16 December 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

19 December 2018

Incident Code

USSOM173

Location

Beled Amin South​, Lower Shabelle, Somalia
A total of 11 al Shabaab militants were killed as US forces conducted two airstrikes in the vicinity of Beled Amin South on December 19th, a US Africa Command press release claimed. According to AFRICOM, no civilians were harmed. The first strike referenced here killed eight militants and the second strike killed three militants, the…

Summary

Published
19 December 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

19 December 2018

Incident Code

USSOM174

Location

Beled Amin South​, Lower Shabelle, Somalia
A total of 11 al Shabaab militants were killed as US forces conducted two airstrikes in the vicinity of Beled Amin South on December 19th, a US Africa Command press release claimed. According to AFRICOM, no civilians were harmed. The strike referenced here killed three militants and the second strike killed eight militants, the US…

Summary

Published
19 December 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

30 December 2018

Incident Code

USSOM175

Location

جيليب, Jilib, Middle Juba, Somalia
A joint action by Somali troops and US Special Forces killed 30 al Shabaab militants including two foreign fighters, in the town of Jilib, according to a Somali National Army commander. Xinhua reported the following: "The Somali National Army (SNA) on Sunday killed 30 al-Shabab militants, including two foreign nationals, in the southern town of…

Summary

Published
30 December 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike, Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

2 January 2019

Incident Code

USSOM176

Location

Deerow Sanle, Bay, Somalia
AFRICOM reported the day previously it had conducted "one airstrike targeting al-Shabaab militants in the vicinity of Dheerow Sanle, Somalia, on January 2, 2019." It added: "At this time we assess no civilians were injured or killed in this airstrike." However, AFRICOM stated that "10 militants" were killed in this event. Voice of America reporter Harun…

Summary

Published
2 January 2019
Strike Type
Airstrike
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

6 January 2019

Incident Code

USSOM177

Location

Vicinity of Deerow Sanle, Bay, Somalia
AFRICOM reported on the same day that it had carried out an airstrike targeting al Shabaab in the vicinity of Dheerow Sanle in the Lower Shabelle region of Somalia. According to AFRICOM "no civilians were injured or killed in this airstrike." The strike "killed six (6) militants and destroyed one vehicle." In a subsequent FOIA response…

Summary

Published
6 January 2019
Strike Type
Airstrike
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Unknown
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

7 January 2019

Incident Code

USSOM178

Location

Baqdaad, Lower Juba, Somalia
US Africa Command reported that the day previously, it had "conducted two airstrikes targeting al-Shabaab militants in the vicinity of Baqdaad, Somalia, on January 7, 2019." AFRICOM stated that "At this time we assess no civilians were injured or killed in these airstrikes." According to AFRICOM "four militants" were killed in the strikes. AFRICOM added…

Summary

Published
7 January 2019
Strike Type
Airstrike
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Unknown
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

7 January 2019

Incident Code

USSOM179

Location

Baqdaad, Lower Juba, Somalia
US Africa Command reported that the day previously, it had “conducted two airstrikes targeting al-Shabaab militants in the vicinity of Baqdaad, Somalia, on January 7, 2019.” AFRICOM stated that “At this time we assess no civilians were injured or killed in these airstrikes.” According to AFRICOM “four militants” were killed in the strikes. AFRICOM added…

Summary

Published
7 January 2019
Strike Type
Airstrike
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

8 January 2019

Incident Code

USSOM180

Location

Yaaq Braawe, Bay, Somalia
US Africa Command reported that the previous day, it had conducted "one (1) airstrike targeting an al-Shabaab encampment in the vicinity of Yaaq Braawe, Bay Region, Somalia, on January 8, 2019." It added: "At this time we assess no civilians were injured or killed in this airstrike." AFRICOM also stated that the airstrike "killed six…

Summary

Published
8 January 2019
Strike Type
Airstrike
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Unknown
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident