Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

USSOM310

Incident date

July 9, 2020

Location

Vicinity of Hantiwadaag, Lower Shabelle, Somalia

Geolocation

1.88721, 44.7789 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

The Somali government and US Africa Command declared the first US action in 53 days, reporting an airstrike on an al Shabaab checkpoint in the vicinity of Hantiwadaag, in Lower Shabelle. One alleged militant was reported killed.

Declaring the attack, Somalia’s Ministry of Information said the strike had taken place in the afternoon. “The FGS, in partnership with the US Africa Command @USAfricaCommand conducted an airstrike against al-Shabaab militants in the vicinity of Hantiwadaag in Lower Shabelle , Somalia. This precision airstrike killed one al-Shabaab militant.”

AFRICOM followed with its own press release shortly afterwards, noting that “In coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia, U.S. Africa Command conducted an airstrike targeting an al-Shabaab checkpoint in vicinity of Hantiwadaag, Somalia, July 9. ‘Al-Shabaab are using checkpoints to threaten, extort and restrict the movement of innocent people in Mogadishu and Lower Shabelle region,’ said U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Bradford Gering, director of operations, U.S. Africa Command. ‘Al-Shabaab’s actions continue to impede much needed economic development and progress.’

“The command’s initial assessment concluded this airstrike killed one (1) terrorist and destroyed an al-Shabaab checkpoint. U.S. Africa Command currently assesses no civilians were injured or killed as a result of this airstrike.”

After an initially intense US campaign against terror group al Shabaab in early 2020, US strikes had effectively halted in mid May, likely as a result of the global Covid-19 pandemic.

The incident occured in the afternoon.

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention a checkpoint being struck in the vicinity of Hantiwadaag, within the Lower Shabelle region. Due to limited information and satellite imagery available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for Hantiwadaag are: 1.88721, 44.7789.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Known belligerent
    US Forces
  • Belligerents reported killed
    1

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

US Forces Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

US Forces

In coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia, U.S. Africa Command conducted an airstrike targeting an al-Shabaab checkpoint in vicinity of Hantiwadaag, Somalia, July 9.

“Al-Shabaab are using checkpoints to threaten, extort and restrict the movement of innocent people in Mogadishu and Lower Shabelle region,” said U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Bradford Gering, director of operations, U.S. Africa Command. “Al-Shabaab’s actions continue to impede much needed economic development and progress.”

The command's initial assessment concluded this airstrike killed one (1) terrorist and destroyed an al-Shabaab checkpoint.

U.S. Africa Command currently assesses no civilians were injured or killed as a result of this airstrike.

U.S. Africa Command and our international partners recognize that stability in Somalia will not be achieved through purely military means. It requires providing programs and opportunity for the Somali people.

Together and at the request of the Federal Government of Somalia, U.S. Africa Command works to improve security conditions in Somalia in order to enhance governance and economic development. U.S. partnership with Somalia also helps prevent al-Shabaab's ambitions to expand their reach, plot attacks, and further export violence.

U.S. Africa Command continues to work with its Somali partners to transfer the responsibility for long-term security in Somalia to the Federal Government of Somalia and its Member States.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Known belligerent
    US Forces
  • Belligerents reported killed
    1

Sources (8) [ collapse]