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Incident Code
Incident Date
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Airwars Assessment
Six civilians were allegedly injured after a US airstrike near Kunya Barrow.
Somali Memo, a news outlet close to Al Shabaab, said: “Last night, Drone planes bombed a civilian residence in the town of Kunya Barrow.
Sources say several missiles hit the home and injure four civilians, including a mother and three children. The injured are recovering in a local hospital.”
Later Somali Memo updated the number to six.
Morad News tweeted: “BREAKING: Suspected #US drone strike reported in #AlShabaab-controlled town of Kunya-Barrow overnight. Several people injured including women and children – Witnesses. #Somalia”
AFRICOM stated in its press release: “In coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia, U.S. Africa Command conducted an airstrike targeting al-Shabaab terrorists in vicinity of Qunyo Barrow, Somalia, May 17.
The command’s initial assessment concluded this airstrike killed two (2) terrorists.
U.S. Africa Command currently assesses no civilians were injured or killed as a result of this airstrike.”
In its civilian casualty assessment third quarter report AFRICOM said the incident was currently under review.
In the following civilian casualty report AFRICOM stated: “After review, the reports were assessed as unsubstantiated. Contrary to the reports stating the airstrike targeted a mother and her children in their home, the airstrike conducted on May 17, 2020 targeted two al-Shabaab members in a known al-Shabaab compound utilized by the group to plan attacks in Mogadishu. No civilians were observed in the area or interacting with the al-Shabaab compound. U.S. intelligence confirmed that the only casualties of the strike were al-Shabaab members, and it is assessed with a high degree of confidence that no civilian casualties occurred as a result of U.S. military action. Additionally, the initial source of the reports is known to be sympathetic to al-Shabaab. Further, forensic analysis indicates that at least some of the photographs had been deliberately manipulated.”
Key Information
Geolocation Notes
Reports of the incident mention a strike in the vicinity of Kunya Barrow (حرمك), for which, due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The coordinates for Kunya Barrow are: 0.7928186, 43.3841839.
Military Statements
Media From Sources (20)
Reports of new air strike against Al-Shabaab militants in the area of Kunyo Barrow, Lower Shabelle region, late Sunday. If confirmed, this would be the first strike by the US since the start of the Ramadan.
— Harun Maruf (@HarunMaruf) May 18, 2020