Incident Code

USSOM052

Location

Tortoroow, Lower Shabelle, Somalia

Geolocation

2.25045, 44.69117
Accuracy: Village

Airwars Assessment

Last Updated: December 15, 2024

(Previous Incident Code: SOM037A)

Kenyan and Somali forces, and their US advisors, carried out a raid on an al Shabaab checkpoint in Toratorow. The US carried out an airstrike during the operation – though initially denied doing so.

Media reports said helicopters were involved, indicating that both US air and ground forces were participating. However a US spokesperson denied US air assets were deployed, telling the Bureau of Investigative Journalism in an email: “In the early morning hours of May 10, Kenyan Defense Forces and Somali National Army forces conducted a joint raid on an al Shabaab taxation checkpoint in Toratorow, with US forces participating in an advise and assist role. This was not a US-led nor was it a US-unilateral operation – US personnel did not participate in any kinetic operations.”

Yet just weeks later, AFRICOM noted in a public press release that “U.S. forces supporting the Federal Government of Somalia, the Somali National Army and troop contributing nations to the African Union Mission in Somalia, provided defensive fires on four occasions in May, to protect U.S., SNA and AMISOM troops from imminent threats posed by the terrorist group al-Shabaab…. Other similar actions were undertaken on three other occasions in May, including one on May 9 and two on May 12.  These defensive fire missions all took place in remote locations in Somalia under al-Shabaab control, which are currently the focus of a Somali and AMISOM-led campaign to regain control of territory for the Somali Federal Government, and to disrupt al-Shabaab’s ability to freely plan and carry out attacks.”

Key Information

Country
Military Actor
Strike Type
Airstrike, Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
Strike Status
Declared strike
Civilian Harm Reported
No

Geolocation Notes

Reports of the incident mention that the strike targeted an Al Shabaab checkpoint in the village Tortoroow. Due to limited information and satellite imagery available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location of this checkpoint. The coordinates for the village Tortoroow are: 2.25045, 44.69117.

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
STUTTGART, Germany – U.S. forces supporting the Federal Government of Somalia, the Somali National Army and troop contributing nations to the African Union Mission in Somalia, provided defensive fires on four occasions in May, to protect U.S., SNA and AMISOM troops from imminent threats posed by the terrorist group al-Shabaab. The most recent event was on the evening of May 13, 2016, when the U.S. provided defensive fires in Southern Somalia against nine al-Shabaab combatants, killing three. The operation was conducted after it was assessed that the terrorists were planning and preparing to conduct an imminent attack against U.S. forces. Other similar actions were undertaken on three other occasions in May, including one on May 9 and two on May 12. These defensive fire missions all took place in remote locations in Somalia under al-Shabaab control, which are currently the focus of a Somali and AMISOM-led campaign to regain control of territory for the Somali Federal Government, and to disrupt al-Shabaab’s ability to freely plan and carry out attacks. U.S. 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 U.S. citizens and interests in East Africa, as well as against our international partners in the region. The U.S. is committed to supporting Somali and regional forces as they combat al-Shabaab and work to bring stability to the region.
Kenyan Military Forces Assessment
Known belligerent
Kenyan Military Forces
Kenyan Military Forces position on incident
Not yet assessed
Somali Military Forces Assessment
Known belligerent
Somali Military Forces
Somali Military Forces position on incident
Not yet assessed