Incident Code

USSOM175

Location

جيليب, Jilib, Middle Juba, Somalia

Geolocation

0.494527, 42.777868
Accuracy: Town

Airwars Assessment

Last Updated: December 15, 2024

(Previous Incident Code: SOM123C)

A joint action by Somali troops and US Special Forces killed 30 al Shabaab militants including two foreign fighters, in the town of Jilib, according to a Somali National Army commander.

Xinhua reported the following: “The Somali National Army (SNA) on Sunday killed 30 al-Shabab militants, including two foreign nationals, in the southern town of Jilib, an official said.. Ali Mohamad Bag Madow, SNA commander for section 43, told journalists the militants were killed in a joint offensive by Somali national forces and the U.S. Africa Command (Africom) near a training camp used by the al-Qaeda-linked militants in Jilib, in Middle Jubba, southern Somalia.

‘Our special forces carried out a joint operation with U.S. Africa Command, killing 30 al-Shabab militants among them two foreigners,’ Madow said. The two foreign militants killed were identified as Aways Abuhamza of Syria and Hasn Al-qayadi Abu Yahya from Libya.

Residents in nearby towns said they heard huge blasts. ‘We heard blasts in Jilib town but we do not have additional details on the final outcome,’ Abdirazak Gedi, a local resident, told Xinhua.”

Key Information

Country
Military Actor
Strike Type
Airstrike, Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
Strike Status
Likely 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 town Jilib (جيليب), for which the coordinates are: 0.494527, 42.777868. Due to limited information and satellite imagery available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Military Statements

Somali Military Forces Assessment
Known belligerent
Somali Military Forces
Somali Military Forces position on incident
Not yet assessed
U.S. Forces Assessment
Suspected belligerent
U.S. Forces
U.S. Forces position on incident
Not yet assessed

Media From Sources (3)