Incident Code

USSOM203

Location

Bur Madow area, Bay, Somalia

Geolocation

2.781494, 44.183406
Accuracy: Subdistrict

Airwars Assessment

Last Updated: December 15, 2024

(Previous Incident Code: SOM143CI)

A possible US or Kenyan airstrike was conducted in the Bur Madow area, Bay region according to Mareeg Media.

The article, published a day after the alleged strike, did not state if anybody had been killed.

According to Mareeg: “Unknown fighter jets carried out an airstrike targeting Al-Shabaab foreign fighters in south west of Somalia. The strike was carried out near Bur Madow area in Bay region. It’s unclear who carried out Thursday’s strike. Somali government has not commented on the new air strike yet.”

No additional sources have presently been identified for this allegation.

Asked whether it had been responsible for this event, in February 2020 a senior AFRICOM official told Airwars that this was not the case. However, this may not preclude actions by the CIA which conducts its own undeclared strikes in Somalia.

Key Information

Country
Military Actor
Strike Type
Airstrike
Strike Status
Single source claim
Civilian Harm Reported
No

Geolocation Notes

Reports of the incident mention that the strike took place in the Bur Madow area in the Bay region. Based on UN mapping of the area, there are two settlements that this location could refer to: Madow Burre at 2.95976, 44.20776 and Madow-Buure at 2.57362, 44.12324. Due to limited information and satellite imagery available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the correct location. The generic coordinates for the area between the two settlements are: 2.781494, 44.183406.

Military Statements

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

Sources (1)