Geolocation
Airwars assessment
An airstrike near Jilib killed one al Shabaab fighter, according to US Africa Command. There were no known reports of civilian harm, an official press statement asserted.
“At this time, it is assessed the airstrike killed one (1) terrorist. Strikes near Jilib disrupt al-Shabaab’s freedom of maneuver. Currently, we assess no civilians were injured or killed as a result of this airstrike,” the press release read.
Hivsasa later reported that the strike was said to have targeted “an Al-Shabaab operative who has been reportedly on [the] run after being put on black books by KDF and allied forces. Tuesday’s strike aimed at the militant, whose details were not immediately released by the forces, but he’s accused of organising several successful attacks.”
AFRICOM later informed the Bureau of Investigative Journalism that there had been a second strike in the vicinity of Jilib on this date, which is listed as a separate event.
According to Halgan Media, the strike took place on the road between Jilib town and the port city of Kismaayo.
Taqwa Media reported similar, while also suggesting more details of the strike: “Drone strike against al Shabaab targets has killed a high-value target (HVT), an al Shabaab leader on the road connecting Jilib town and the port city of Kismayu in Somalia. The drone strikes yet to be confirmed hit and neutralized the vehicle of the al Shabaab leader and his bodyguards approximately 1050hrs in southern Somalia.”
The incident occured at approximately 10:50 am local time.
Geolocation notes
Reports of the incident mention that the strike took place in the vicinity of the town Jilib (جيليب), for which the generic coordinates are: 0.494527, 42.777868. Due to limited information and satellite imagery available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.
Summary
Sources (5) [ collapse]
Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]
US Forces Assessment:
Original strike reports
U.S., Federal Government of Somalia target al-Shabaab terrorist with airstrike
In coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia, U.S. Africa Command conducted an airstrike targeting an al-Shabaab terrorist in the vicinity of Jilib, Somalia, on Sept. 3.
"We continue to place pressure on terrorist networks at the same time our Somali partners are making progress on the ground," said U.S. Army Maj. Gen. William Gayler, director of operations, U.S. Africa Command. "These strikes certainly disrupt the network and remove terrorists from causing further harm."
At this time, it is assessed the airstrike killed one (1) terrorist. Strikes near Jilib disrupt al-Shabaab’s freedom of maneuver.
Currently, we assess no civilians were injured or killed as a result of this airstrike.