Geolocation
Airwars assessment
Reports emerged of a possible US airstrike in Jilib targeting a senior al Shabaab security commander, according to Voice of America (VOA) journalist Harun Maruf.
Maruf – a journalist noted for his good sources within the Somali military – asserted on Twitter: “Hearing reports that an airstrike occurred in Jilib tonight targeting a senior Al-Shabaab security Commander. This strike could be significant if it turns out that the individual targetted is confirmed dead as a result of the operation.”
No further details are known regarding this allegation – either confirming the commander’s death; or whether the claimed incident had resulted in civilian harm.
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.
The local time of the incident is unknown.
Summary
Sources (2) [ collapse]
Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]
Geolocation notes
Reports of the incident mention that the strike took place in 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.