Airwars assessment
The US military carried out an airstrike targeting ISIS-Somalia and possibly also al Shabaab in the vicinity of Timirshe, in the Golis Mountains.
According to a press release from US Africa Command issued the following day, three fighters from the terrorist group were killed, with AFRICOM currently assessing that no civilians had been harmed in the strike.
“This airstrike eliminated ISIS-Somalia members staged in a remote location in Northern Somalia,” said Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Gregg Olson, US Africa Command director of operations. “This is the second precision airstrike U.S. Africa Command has executed in coordination with our Somali partners against ISIS-Somalia this month. The first airstrike occurred on April 14, killing the second in command of ISIS-Somalia, Abdulhakim Dhuqub.”
Garowe Online had reported on the day of the action that suspected US airstrikes had been conducted in the Puntland area. Their anonymous source claimed that the strikes hit two “hideouts of terror groups” in the vicinity of Timirshe. Six missiles were reportedly fired – four targeting an ISIS base, while the other two targeted approximately 200 al Shabaab fighters at a nearby water well, it claimed – noting that “The locality has been the scene of recent clashes between the two groups who are fighting for control as they face intensified military offensives from Puntland defence forces and US military.”
Garowe Online also said that there were conflicting reports of the casualty numbers, with one local resident saying that “several militants” were killed. In a separate tweet, Garowe said that “The #Daesh militants were in… Ameero and #AlShabab in Siido, two valleys between mountains in #Bari province of #Puntland state.”
MORE: The #Daesh militants were attached in il & Ameero and #AlShabab in Siido, two valleys between mountains in #Bari province of #Puntland state.
— Garowe Online (@radiogarowe) April 26, 2019
Reuters spoke to an witness who said that missiles struck two wells on the outskirts of Timirshe village. “‘We heard the crash of four missiles on the outskirts of Timirshe village,’ resident Ahmed Nur told Reuters by telephone. He said the wells were used by militants from both IS and their more powerful Islamist rivals al Shabaab, an al Qaeda affiliate who have been fighting Somalia’s UN-backed government for years… A Puntland intelligence official said the air strike targeted both groups. ‘There are casualties and we are investigating. In recent battles al Shabaab captured three bases from IS,’ he told Reuters by telephone, requesting anonymity.”
The local time of the incident is unknown.
Summary
Sources (6) [ collapse]
Geolocation notes
Reports of the incident mention that the strike targeted two wells on the outskirts of the village Timirshe, in the Iskushuban district. Due to limited information and satellite imagery available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the precise location of the strike. The coordinates for the village Timirshe are: 10.56245, 50.42396.
US Forces Assessment:
Original strike reports
Somali Forces & U.S. Africa Command Conduct Airstrike Targeting ISIS-Somalia
In coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia's continued efforts to degrade violent extremist organizations, U.S. Africa Command conducted an airstrike targeting ISIS-Somalia terrorists in the Golis Mountains, Somalia, on April 26, 2019.
By U.S. AFRICA COMMAND PUBLIC AFFAIRS, United States Africa CommandStuttgart, GermanyApr 27, 2019
In coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia's continued efforts to degrade violent extremist organizations, U.S. Africa Command conducted an airstrike targeting ISIS-Somalia terrorists in the Golis Mountains, Somalia, on April 26, 2019.
"This airstrike eliminated ISIS-Somalia members staged in a remote location in Northern Somalia,” said Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Gregg Olson, U.S. Africa Command director of operations. “Removing these extremists impacts ISIS-Somalia’s ability to terrorize innocent Somalis in the region and it creates confusion within the terrorist network.”
This is the second precision airstrike U.S. Africa Command has executed in coordination with our Somali partners against ISIS-Somalia this month. The first airstrike occurred on April 14, killing the second in command of ISIS-Somalia, Abdulhakim Dhuqub.
U.S. Africa Command precision airstrikes support Somali security force activities and build enhanced security conditions to allow time and space for governance and economic development to occur.
At this time, it is assessed the airstrike on April 26 killed three (3) terrorists. A detailed post-strike analysis continues and more details may be released as appropriate.
Currently, we assess no civilians were injured or killed as a result of this airstrike. Our process and procedures allow for additional information to inform post-strike analysis.
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. In support of the Federal Government of Somalia, U.S. forces will use all effective and appropriate methods to assist in the protection of the Somali people, including partnered military counterterrorism operations with the Federal Government of Somalia, AMISOM, and Somali National Army forces.