Geolocation
Airwars assessment
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 location is near Lebed, but local sources say exact target is a mountain called Geelway. It’s the 37th strike by US in Somalia this year.”
In a subsequent FOIA response obtained by journalist Joshua Eaton in May 2019, AFRICOM confirmed it had struck on this day what it says were “al Shabaab fighters”, in the vicinity Ledbe, Somalia.
The local time of the incident is unknown.
Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]
Reports of the incident mention that the strike targeted the Geelway mountain (or Buur Gal Waay) between Dinsor and Burhakaba. Africom stated that the strike took place in Lebede, of which the location is unclear. The coordinates of the Geelway mountain are: 2.357851, 43.579698. Due to limited information and satellite imagery available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.
Summary
Sources (5) [ collapse]
Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]
US Forces Assessment:
Original strike reports
Al-Shabaab Forces Degraded by U.S., Federal Government of Somalia
To support the Federal Government of Somalia’s continued efforts to degrade al-Shabaab, U.S. forces conducted an airstrike targeting al-Shabaab militants near Lebede, Somalia on November 30, 2018.
We currently assess this airstrike killed nine (9) militants with no civilians involved.
U.S. forces will use all effective and appropriate methods to protect the Somali people, including partnered military counter-terror operations with the Federal Government of Somalia, Africa Union Mission in Somalia and Somali National Army forces.