Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

USSOM215

Incident date

April 19, 2019

Location

Vicinity of Jamaame, Lower Juba, Somalia

Geolocation

0.06978, 42.748066 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

The US military carried out an airstrike in the vicinity of Jamaame, Lower Juba Region, according to a press release issued the next day by US Africa Command.

It was later reported that one of those killed had been responsible for the death of a US soldier in Somalia in June 2018.

AFRICOM’s initial press release on April 20th asserted only that two al Shabaab terrorists were killed in the strike, and that it currently assessed that no civilians were harmed.

The statement further noted: “Two years ago, al-Shabaab maintained a level of freedom of movement that allowed the group to terrorize and displace Somali citizens in the Lower Juba River Valley, which is near Kismayo. Today, our Somali and AMISOM partners have pushed the extremist group back up the river valley, establishing multiple combat outposts along the way in order to ensure our partners can hold the territory they have successfully retaken.”

The Wall Street Journal later reported that “An April 19 U.S. airstrike in Somalia killed the al-Shabaab militant believed responsible for an American soldier’s death last year in an attack on an isolated outpost, according to the U.S. military. Abdullahi Jiibiyow was hit as he and another militant were riding a motorcycle about 10 miles from the village of Sanguuni in southern Somalia, a U.S. military official said.”

According to Army Times, Jibiyow was “a mortar team leader responsible for multiple attacks in the Lower Juba River Valley, in southern Somalia, according to U.S. Africa Command.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention that the strike took place in the vicinity of the town of Jamaame, for which the coordinates are: 0.06978, 42.748066. 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
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Causes of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Unknown
  • Known belligerent
    US Forces
  • Known target
    Al-Shabaab
  • Belligerents reported killed
    2

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ 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's continued efforts to weaken al-Shabaab, U.S. forces conducted an airstrike in the vicinity of Jamaame, Lower Juba Region, Somalia, on April 19, 2019 (...)

At this time, it is assessed this airstrike killed two al-Shabaab terrorists.

Currently, we assess no civilians were injured or killed as a result of this airstrike."

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Causes of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Unknown
  • Known belligerent
    US Forces
  • Known target
    Al-Shabaab
  • Belligerents reported killed
    2

Sources (7) [ collapse]