Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

USSOM146

Incident date

September 21, 2018

Location

50 km northwest of Kismayo, Lower Juba, Somalia

Geolocation

0.059135, 42.209835 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Subdistrict level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

US forces carried out a ‘self-defence strike’ against al Shabaab on September 21st approximately 50 km northwest of Kismayo and killing 18 al Shabaab members, according to a press release from US Africa Command.

According to AFRICOM “The U.S. airstrike was conducted against militants after U.S. and partner forces came under attack. We currently assess eighteen (18) terrorists were killed in the strike. Two (2) other terrorists were killed by Somali forces with small arms fire during the engagement. We currently assess no civilians were injured or killed in this airstrike.”

AP added more detail: “No U.S. or Somali forces were killed or injured in the attack, an AFRICOM spokesman, Nate Herring, told The Associated Press. The airstrike was carried out Friday in self-defense after extremists were ‘observed maneuvering on a combined patrol,’ while the U.S. also responded with ‘indirect fire,’ the spokesman said. The confrontation occurred about 31 miles northwest of the port city of Kismayo, the U.S. Africa Command statement said. Two other al-Shabab extremists were killed by Somali forces ‘with small arms fire during the engagement,’ it said.”

There are no known civilian harm allegations associated with this event.

In a possible match, SNA Radio  reported several days later that “#Somali National Army killed Foreigner senior #Alshabaab leader from #Afghanistan, whose name is identified Nasir Aljabiri and 18 others members of Al shabaab at #JilibMarka Town in Lower Shabelle region.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention that the strike took place in the area 50 kilometers northwest of the city Kismayo. The generic coordinates for this area are: -0.059135, 42.209835. Due to limited information and satellite imagery available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Causes of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons
  • Known belligerent
    US Forces
  • Known target
    Al-Shabaab
  • Belligerents reported killed
    18–20

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

US Forces Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

US Forces

"In coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia, U.S. forces conducted an airstrike in self-defense, targeting al-Shabaab militants 50 kilometers northwest of Kismayo, Lower Juba Province, Somalia, September 21, 2018.

The U.S. airstrike was conducted against militants after U.S. and partner forces came under attack. We currently assess eighteen (18) terrorists were killed in the strike. Two (2) other terrorists were killed by Somali forces with small arms fire during the engagement.

We currently assess no civilians were injured or killed in this airstrike."

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Causes of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons
  • Known belligerent
    US Forces
  • Known target
    Al-Shabaab
  • Belligerents reported killed
    18–20

Sources (4) [ collapse]