Geolocation
Airwars assessment
US Africa Command reported that the previous day, it had conducted “one (1) airstrike targeting an al-Shabaab encampment in the vicinity of Yaaq Braawe, Bay Region, Somalia, on January 8, 2019.”
It added: “At this time we assess no civilians were injured or killed in this airstrike.”
AFRICOM also stated that the airstrike “killed six militants and destroyed one vehicle” – and that “The al-Shabaab encampment served as a staging area for terrorists in the region.”
In a subsequent FOIA response obtained by journalist Joshua Eaton in May 2019, AFRICOM again confirmed it had struck on this date what it says was an al Shabaab encampment, in the vicinity of Yaaq Brawe.
The local time of the incident is unknown.
Summary
Sources (3) [ collapse]
Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]
Geolocation notes
Reports of the incident mention that the strike targeted an Al Shabaab encampment in the vicinity of the village Yaaq Braawe. The coordinates for this village are: 1.95085, 43.19458. Due to limited information and satellite imagery available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.
US Forces Assessment:
Original strike reports
To support the Federal Government of Somalia's continued efforts to degrade al-Shabaab, U.S. forces conducted one (1) airstrike targeting an al-Shabaab encampment in the vicinity of Yaaq Braawe, Bay Region, Somalia, on January 8, 2019.
The al-Shabaab encampment served as a staging area for terrorists in the region.
We currently assess this airstrike killed six (6) militants and destroyed one vehicle.
At this time we assess no civilians were injured or killed in this airstrike.
Alongside our Somali and international partners, we are committed to preventing al-Shabaab from taking advantage of safe havens from which they can build capacity and attack the people of Somalia. In particular, the group uses portions of southern and central Somalia to plot and direct terror attacks, steal humanitarian aid, extort the local populace to fund its operations, and shelter radical terrorists.
U.S. Africa Command will continue to work with its partners to transfer the responsibility for long-term security in Somalia from AMISOM to the Federal Government of Somalia and its Member States, and 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, AMISOM and Somali National Army forces.