Incident Code

USSOM049

Location

Lower Juba, Somalia

Geolocation

0.379318, 42.0136
Accuracy: Province/governorate
Sections

Airwars Assessment

Last Updated: July 2, 2025

(Previous Incident Code: SOM035)

This was the second of two strikes confirmed by the Pentagon on April 4th 2016. The attack was a “self-defence air strikes against al Shabaab fighters who posed imminent threats to US and partner nation forces in Somalia,” Department of Defense spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Michelle Baldanza told the Bureau of Investigative Journalism.

Earlier on April 4th, Voice of America reported: “A separate strike Saturday killed six militants in the Lower Juba region, according to local officials and residents.”

Key Information

Country
Military Actor
Strike Type
Airstrike
Strike Status
Declared strike
Civilian Harm Reported
No
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons

Geolocation Notes

Reports of the incident mention that the strike took place in the Lower Juba region, for which the generic coordinates are: 0.379318, 42.0136. Due to limited information and satellite imagery available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Military Statements

U.S. Forces Assessment
Known belligerent
U.S. Forces
U.S. Forces position on incident
Not yet assessed
U.S. Forces Strike Report
Original Source ↗
"On April 1 and April 2, US forces conducted two self-defense air strikes against Al Shabaab fighters who posed imminent threats to U.S. and partner nation forces in Somalia. Our forces are working closely with partners to combat Al Shabaab. Al Shabaab has pledged allegiance to Al Qaeda; and is dedicated to creating safe havens for terrorist operations and is planning on conducting external attacks in and from Africa. We continue to assess the results of the strikes and will provide additional information as and when appropriate." Via email from Pentagon spokesperson, however original email has not been retrieved

Sources (3)

The Bureau of Investigative Journalism ↗

English

VOA ↗

English