Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

USSOM264

Incident date

January 3, 2020

Location

Between Bacaw and Bariire, Lower Shabelle, Somalia

Geolocation

2.057244, 44.906611 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

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.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention a strike on a patrol between the villages of Bacaw and Bariire, for which the generic coordinates are: 2.057244, 44.906611

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Known belligerent
    US Forces
  • Known target
    Al-Shabaab
  • Belligerents reported killed
    3

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

US Forces Assessment:

  • Known belligerent
    US Forces
  • US Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Known belligerent
    US Forces
  • Known target
    Al-Shabaab
  • Belligerents reported killed
    3

Sources (7) [ collapse]