Airwars assessment
On January 21st, 2024, US Africa Command (AFRICOM) conducted a drone strike against the Al-Shabaab militant group 35 kilometers northeast of the city of Kismayo in the Lower Juba region of Somalia, reportedly killing three militants. To date, there have been no reports of civilian casualties in connection to the strike.
Two days later, on the 23rd of January, AFRICOM released a statement on the strike: “at the request of the Federal Government of Somalia, U.S. Africa Command conducted a collective self-defense airstrike with two engagements against the Al-Shabaab terrorist group on Jan. 21”. The statement added that after an initial assessment, it was judged that “no civilians were injured or killed” by the airstrike and that three Al-Shabaab militants had been killed.
The Long War Journal published an online article, written by Bill Rodrigo and Caleb Weiss, dated January 23rd, which stated that the attack had specifically been a drone strike and observed that the attack was the first declared US drone strike in Somalia in 2024. The Long War Journal noted that “neither AFRICOM, the U.S. military command responsible for such strikes, nor Somalia itself have confirmed the exact coordinates” of the strike.
Additionally, a report from Associated Press (AP) written by Omar Faruk on January 23rd, reported that there had been “no immediate response” from Al-Shabaab concerning the strike. Furthermore, Garowe Online on January 24th, stated that the militants killed were “not notorious” but that the strike had been carried out “for defense purposes” in coordination with the Somali National Army (SNA).
The local time of the incident is unknown.
Summary
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US Forces Assessment:
Original strike reports
Federal Government of Somalia, AFRICOM target al Shabaab
At the request of the Federal Government of Somalia, U.S. Africa Command conducted a collective self-defense airstrike with two engagements against the al Shabaab terrorist group on Jan. 21.
At the request of the Federal Government of Somalia, U.S. Africa Command conducted a collective self-defense airstrike with two engagements against the al Shabaab terrorist group on Jan. 21.
The collective self-defense strike occurred in a remote area of Somalia, approximately 35 kilometers northeast of Kismayo.
The initial assessment is that the U.S. airstrike killed three al Shabaab terrorists and that no civilians were injured or killed.
U.S. Africa Command will continue to assess the results of this airstrike and will provide additional information as appropriate. Specific details about the units involved and assets used will not be released in order to ensure operational security.
Al Shabaab is the largest and most active al-Qaeda network in the world and has proved both its will and capability to attack U.S. forces and threaten U.S. security interests. U.S. Africa Command, alongside its partners, continues to take action to prevent this malicious terrorist group from planning and conducting attacks on civilians.
Somalia remains key to the security environment in East Africa. U.S. Africa Command's forces will continue training, advising, and equipping partner forces to give them the tools that they need to degrade al Shabaab.
U.S. Africa Command, headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany, with partners, counters malign actors and transnational threats, responds to crises, and strengthens security forces in order to advance U.S. national interests and promote regional security, stability and prosperity.