(Previous Incident Code: SOM180)

In its first declared action in Somalia of 2020, AFRICOM announced on the same day that “in coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia, U.S. Africa Command conducted an airstrike against al-Shabaab terrorists who engaged Somali National Army partner forces on patrol near Bacaw.”

AFRICOM added that “At this time, it is assessed this precision airstrike killed three (3) militants. Currently, we assess no civilians were injured or killed as a result of this airstrike.”

Several sources said that the strike had come after Somalia’s elite Danab forces had come under attack from al Shabaab militants. Defense Post for example said that “A Somali federal government spokesperson told The Defense Post that Shabaab militants “attacked Danab and Somali National Army (SNA) forces conducting patrols.”

There was some variation in locational reports for this event. While AFRICOM said the attack took place “near Bacaw”, Defense Post and Xinhua placed the attack “near the town of Bariire, around 45 km west of Mogadishu.” Somali state radio also mentioned a strike event at Baloow Eylo, Lower Shabelle – though this may represent a separate Somali Army incident.