Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

USSOM360

Incident date

November 26, 2022

Location

Bulo Madina, Lower Shabelle, Somalia

Geolocation

3.067730, 45.547450 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

More than 60 al-Shabaab militants were reportedly killed by Somali forces and “international partner” airstrikes or ground operations in the village of Bulo Madina on November 26, 2022.

Horn Diplomat Media quoted Somalia’s deputy information minister, Abdirahman Yusuf Omar Adala, who said that in addition to a similar operation carried out in El-Dhere, a military operation in the village of Bulo Madina resulted in the death of 60 al-Shabaab terrorists. Both operations were carried out by the Somali army with support by “local militias and international security partners”.

No other details on this operation were available at the time.

While no sources directly implicated the US in the operation, the Somali government’s reference to “international partners” has in the past indicated US involvement but could also refer to Turkish involvement.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Bulo Madina, for which the generic coordinates are: 3.067730, 45.547450. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Suspected belligerents
    Somali Military Forces, International Forces (Unknown)
  • Suspected target
    Al-Shabaab
  • Belligerents reported killed
    60

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Somali Military Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Somali Military Forces
  • Somali Military Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

International Forces (Unknown) Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    International Forces (Unknown)
  • International Forces (Unknown) position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Suspected belligerents
    Somali Military Forces, International Forces (Unknown)
  • Suspected target
    Al-Shabaab
  • Belligerents reported killed
    60

Sources (1) [ collapse]