Incident date
February 2, 2015
LOCATION
Diinsoor, Bay, SomaliaAccording to a Freedom of Information response obtained by journalist Joshua Eaton in May 2019, this previously unknown US strike took place in Dinsoor, Somalia against an “al-Shabaab Named Objective”. It should be noted however that the last known declared US strike in Dinsoor prior to February 2nd 2015 was on January 31st 2015. There
Summary
Incident date
October 20, 2019
LOCATION
Jamaame, Middle Juba, SomaliaLocal media reported a pair of alleged international airstrikes targeting the al Shabaab held towns of Jilib and Jamaame. Unusually the culprit was alleged to be France according to vague ‘sources’. However reporting remains poor. According to Mareeg News, “A suspected French military fighter jet has carried out airstrikes against al Shabab, an al Qaeda
Summary
Incident date
February 19, 2020
LOCATION
Wadajir, Lower Shabelle, SomaliaThree Al Shabaab fighters were allegedly killed in a US airstike near Wadajir, according to AFRICOM. The US military’s press release said: “In coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia, U.S. Africa Command conducted a precision airstrike targeting al-Shabaab terrorists in the vicinity of Wadajir, Somalia, Feb. 19. The command’s initial assessment concluded this precision airstrike
Summary
Incident date
April 9, 2020
LOCATION
جيليب, Kobon, Lower Juba, SomaliaTen Al Shabaab members were reportedly killed by a US airstrike near Kobon. AFRICOM stated in its press release: “In coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia, U.S. Africa Command conducted a collective self-defense strike against al-Shabaab terrorists who engaged U.S. partner forces, Somali National Army Danab, and Jubaland Security Force, near Kobon, Somalia, Apr.
Summary
Incident date
January 13, 2021
LOCATION
Buulo Fulaay, Bay, SomaliaA US airstrike allegedly killed one Al Shabaab fighter near Buulo Fulaay. The AFRICOM press release said: “In coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia, U.S. Africa Command forces conducted one airstrike in the vicinity of Buulo Fulaay, Somalia Jan. 13, 2021. Initial assessments indicate the strike killed one al-Shabaab personnel and destroyed one compound.
Summary
Incident date
November 30, 2022
LOCATION
Ali Foldhere, Middle Shabelle, SomaliaUp 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
Summary
Incident date
July 13, 2023
LOCATION
Gherille, SomaliaFive al-Shabaab militants were killed by alleged Kenyan Defense Forces airstrikes on the town of Gherille near the Kenyan-Somalia border on July 13, 2023. A tweet from @CrimeBusterKe reported that the Kenyan Defense Forces killed carried out an airstrike in Gherille which killed five militants in a technical vehicle. The airstrikes occurred in the same
Summary
Incident date
April 3, 2011
LOCATION
Dhoobley, Gedo, SomaliaAt least one militant and as many as “three dozen” were killed in an alleged US-waged airstrike in Dhobley, Jubaland, international and regional media reported. The attack marked the beginning of a concerted campaign in Somalia against al Shabaab by the Obama administration. After a reporting gap of 18 months, US air attacks appear to
Summary
Incident date
March 8, 2016
LOCATION
Awdheegle, Lower Shabelle, SomaliaAt least 19 alleged militants were killed in a joint operation between US and Somali forces in the village of Awdhegle. US attack helicopters supported US and Somali Special Forces who attacked an al Shabaab target in southern Somalia, the Pentagon and Somali officials said. The assault took place overnight. The soldiers flew on US
Summary
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
November 24, 2018
LOCATION
هرجيسا, Hargeysa Yarey, Middle Juba, SomaliaA 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
Incident date
March 12, 2019
LOCATION
Huley, Lower Shabelle, SomaliaUS Africa Command confirmed that it had carried out an airstrike on March 12th 2019 in the vicinity of Huley, Lower Shabelle Region. According to AFRICOM, the airstrike killed two “terrorists”, and “at this time, it is assessed no civilians were injured or killed in this airstrike.” In September 2019, the TRT World Research Centre
Summary
Incident date
November 18, 2018
LOCATION
Radio Andalus, Jilib, Middle Juba, SomaliaAirstrikes 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
Incident date
December 29, 2019
LOCATION
Vicinity of Kunyo Barrow, SomaliaIn retaliatory actions against al Al Shabaab for a mass casualty bombing in Mogadishu a day earlier, the United States said that it had conducted three strikes against al Shbaab commanders, killing four people in total.This entry relates to one of two strikes in the vicinity of Kunyo Barrow in Lower Shabelle. Al Shabaab itself
Summary
Incident date
March 10, 2020
LOCATION
جيليب, Jilib, Middle Juba, SomaliaA US airstrike targeted Al Shabaab in Jilib, according to local reporting. Radio Kulmiye said: “Suspected US airstrikes targeted to Al-shabaab compounds in southern Somalia. The attacks destroyed vehicles, camps and killed militants. According to Somali intelligence officials, the airstrikes carried by unidentified military planes targeted Jilib, Sakow and Bu’ale towns of Middle Jubba region,
Summary
Incident date
July 29, 2020
LOCATION
جيليب, Jilib, Middle Juba, SomaliaThe US military reported on the same day that it had conducted an airstrike against al Shabaab fighters in the town of Jilib. However it was locally claimed that the attack had killed three young children, whose bodies were shown on social media. In a press release published on the evening of the attack, AFRICOM
Summary
Incident date
August 1, 2021
LOCATION
Between Qaycad town and Xarardheere , Mudug, SomaliaIn its latest actions in support of Somali ground forces, AFRICOM confirmed that it had conducted airstrikes on al Shabaab positions “in the vicinity of Qeycad” on August 1st. Statements published by both the Somali Ministry of Information and Galmudug State referred to two separate strikes, which Airwars is therefore treating as separate events. Galmudug
Summary
Incident date
February 10, 2023
LOCATION
Donlaye, Mudug, SomaliaBetween 12 and 117 alleged al-Shabaab militants were killed by declared AFRICOM airstrikes and/or Somali National Army operations in Donlaye, near Amara town, on February 10, 2023. AFRICOM released a statement on February 12th that “At the request of the Federal Government of Somalia and in support of Somali National Army engagements against al-Shabaab, U.S. Africa
Summary
Incident date
September 6, 2023
LOCATION
Oodweyn, Mudug, SomaliaUp to seven civilians, including up to five children and a woman, were killed and up to five others, including children, were injured during an operation that has been declared by the Somali government. The US has denied directly participating in the operation despite accusations of US drone/air strikes, while the Somali government has denied
Summary
Incident date
January 21, 2012
LOCATION
Elasha Biyaha, Lower Shabelle, SomaliaA British al Shabaab fighter, Bilal al-Berjawi, was killed by a US drone strike in or near the town of Elasha Biyaha, 15km south of Mogadishu, local and international media reported. There were no reports of civilian harm. Three missiles fired from a drone operated by JSOC killed British-Lebanese militant Bilal al-Berjawi, also known as
Summary
Incident date
September 5, 2016
LOCATION
Tortoroow, Lower Shabelle, SomaliaThe US reported two days after the event that it had conducted two “self-defence strikes” on September 5th against al Shabaab, killing four militants. According to an AFRICOM press release, the strikes hit near Tortoroow and were conducted in coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia after a Somali-led counter-terrorism operation came under attack. Garowe
Summary
Incident date
November 11, 2017
LOCATION
Osman Gaduud, Lower Shabelle, SomaliaUS forces carried out a strike against al Shabaab at approximately 1630 local time on November 11, US Africa Command said. It made no mention of civilian harm. However, AFRICOM stated that the strike killed a single fighter, and that it took place near Gaduud, located 250 miles southwest of the capital, Mogadishu. This 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
January 8, 2019
LOCATION
Yaaq Braawe, Bay, SomaliaUS 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
Incident date
May 5, 2019
LOCATION
جيليب, Jilib, Middle Juba, SomaliaThe Somali military said that double US strikes near Jilib town killed 16 al Qaeda and al Shabaab fighters, according to Radio Risaala. US Africa Command did not however publish a press release for this event – though it did report a strike on the same date near Tortoroow. Quoting an anonymous military official, Risaala
Summary
Incident date
November 2, 2017
LOCATION
Buqa, Bari, SomaliaThe US conducted its first known strike against so-called Islamic State in Somalia. CNN reported that both strikes were carried out by armed drone. According to Associated Press, “A US official said the strikes were carried out in northeastern Somalia, with the first around midnight local time and the second later in the morning. The
Summary
Incident date
May 9, 2019
LOCATION
Jamaame, Lower Juba, SomaliaAccording to local sources, an airstrike by an unknown party targeted a ‘foreign al Shabaab commander’ around dawn on May 9th 2019. According to Horn Globe, “A second huge blast was heard in Jamame town, around dawn. The target of the second air attack was al-Shabaab commander in charge of planning operations, a Somali intelligence officer
Summary
Incident date
January 22, 2020
LOCATION
Sakow district, Middle Juba, SomaliaLocal reports claimed that US airstrikes had targeted al Shabaab bases near Sakow in Middle Juba, in support of ground operations by Somali forces. AFRICOM itself did not publicly report any strikes on this date. Goobjoog News reported what it said were US strikes in support of Somali ground operations “around Sakow district, the airstrike
Summary
Incident date
March 15, 2020
LOCATION
Vicinity of Janaale, Lower Shabelle, SomaliaSeveral days after the events, US Africa Command press released that it had conducted five airstrikes in the vicinity of Janaale during March 16th-17th. Somali state media and government reported the same strikes but said they took place on March 15th-16th. AFRICOM said the actions were in support of ground operations by Somalia forces, while noting
Summary
Incident date
September 21, 2020
LOCATION
Jana Cabdalle, Lower Juba, SomaliaA US airstrike targeted a vehicle in Jana Cabdalle, AFRICOM confirmed to Airwars via email. The Africa Command stated: “In coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia, U.S. Africa Command conducted one airstrike in Jana Cabdalle, Somalia on Sept. 21 to prevent a military vehicle from being commandeered by al-Shabaab terrorists. The command’s initial assessment