Geolocation
Airwars assessment
One civilian was allegedly killed in a US airstrike on Jamaame.
Halgan Media said: “US drones just bombed the town of Jamaame in the Lower Jubba province of Somalia and killed a prominent Clan elder named Mohamed Abbas, who died instantly when a missile from a US drone hit his home – Sources.”
Somali Memo, linked to Al Shabaab, wrote: “Reports from the Lower Jubba region say that an airstrike on the outskirts of Jamame killed one of the traditional elders of the Somali clans.
A drone strike near the town of Jamaame has killed Sultan Mohamed Abbas, the sultan of the Habar Gidir clan in Jubba regions.”
The AFRICOM press release said: “In coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia, U.S. Africa Command forces conducted two airstrikes in the vicinities of Jamaame and Deb Scinnele, Somalia, Jan. 19.
Initial assessments indicate the strikes killed three al-Shabaab operatives.
The command’s initial assessment is that no civilians were injured or killed as a result of this operation.”
AFRICOM’s 2nd Quarter 2021 Civilian Casualty Assessment Quarterly Report stated that “U.S. Africa Command received one (1) report from an online media source claiming one (1) civilian was killed as a result of a U.S. airstrike in the vicinity of Jamaame, Somalia, on Jan. 19, 2021. After review, the report was assessed as unsubstantiated. The airstrike on Jan. 19, 2021 targeted an al-Shabaab commander who planned and coordinated attacks against partner forces in the region. Multiple U.S. intelligence reports, compiled over the course of several years, confirmed the individual was an al-Shabaab commander. The airstrike occurred in an open area where the effects of the strike were limited to the targeted individual and the vehicle he was driving.”
AFRICOM revisited the strike again in the 4th Quarter 2021 Civilian Casualty Assessment Quarterly Report, giving an update that “U.S. Africa Command stands by the targeted airstrike that killed al-Shabaab commander, Mohamed Abbas Ahmed Dirshe, who planned and coordinated attacks against partner forces in the region. A series of intelligence reports dating back to 2018 clearly detail his direct role in al-Shabaab including the planning and execution of al-Shabaab operations in the region.”
The local time of the incident is unknown.
The victims were named as:
Summary
Sources (8) [ collapse]
Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]
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Vehicle allegedly destroyed by US airstrike on Jamaame on January 20th, 2021 (via Morad News)
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Vehicle allegedly destroyed by US airstrike on Jamaame on January 20th, 2021 (via Morad News)
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Remnants of US airstrike on Jamaame on January 20th, 2021 (via Morad News)
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Vehicle allegedly destroyed by US airstrike on Jamaame on January 20th, 2021 (via Morad News)
Geolocation notes
Reports of the incident mention the town of Jamaame, for which the generic coordinates are: 0.06978, 42.748066. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.
US Forces Assessment:
Civilian casualty statements
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Jan. 19, 2021, U.S. Africa Command received one (1) report from an online media source claiming one (1) civilian was killed as a result of a U.S. airstrike in the vicinity of Jamaame, Somalia, on Jan. 19, 2021. U.S. Africa Command’s assessment of this report is ongoing.
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(Unsubstantiated) Jan. 19, 2021, U.S. Africa Command received one (1) report from an online media source claiming one (1) civilian was killed as a result of a U.S. airstrike in the vicinity of Jamaame, Somalia, on Jan. 19, 2021. After review, the report was assessed as unsubstantiated. The airstrike on Jan. 19, 2021 targeted an al-Shabaab commander who planned and coordinated attacks against partner forces in the region. Multiple U.S. intelligence reports, compiled over the course of several years, confirmed the individual was an al-Shabaab commander. The airstrike occurred in an open area where the effects of the strike were limited to the targeted individual and the vehicle he was driving.
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Update: U.S. Africa Command stands by the targeted airstrike that killed al-Shabaab commander, Mohamed Abbas Ahmed Dirshe, who planned and coordinated attacks against partner forces in the region. A series of intelligence reports dating back to 2018 clearly detail his direct role in al-Shabaab including the planning and execution of al-Shabaab operations in the region.
Original strike reports
In coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia, U.S. Africa Command forces conducted two airstrikes in the vicinities of Jamaame and Deb Scinnele, Somalia, Jan. 19.
Initial assessments indicate the strikes killed three al-Shabaab operatives.
The command’s initial assessment is that no civilians were injured or killed as a result of this operation.
“These strikes targeted known al-Shabaab leaders involved in IED facilitation, fighter training, and attack planning,” said U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Dagvin Anderson, Joint Task Force-Quartz commander. “Striking these leaders disrupts al-Shabaab’s ability to attack our partners and indiscriminately kill innocent civilians with improvised explosive devices. We are working closely with our Somali partners to support their operations against al-Shabaab, protect their people, and provide governance.”
Joint Task Force - Quartz operations support U.S. Africa Command and international efforts that promote a peaceful and stable Somalia. Violent extremist organizations like al-Shabaab present long-term threats to U.S. and regional interests.