Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

USSOM435

Incident date

June 17, 2024

Location

Rage Baris area, Galgadud, Somalia

Airwars assessment

An airstrike allegedly perpetrated by the Somali National Army “with assistance form international partners” killed up to 30 Al-Shabaab militants on 17 June, 2024 in the Rage Baris area of Galgadud, central Somalia.

Garowe Online, quoting a statement from Somali state media clarified that two trucks and a technical vehicle [an improvised military vehicle] were destroyed, while Mustaqbal Media specified that the strike occurred “near Hussein Cageey, an area between the Mesegawaay and Baraag Sheikh Aamir areas”. Radio Dalsan wrote that “more than 21” members of al-Shabaab were killed and the area was a known gathering location for al-Shabaab.

Garowe Online reported that state media thanked the Somali National Army as well as “the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) troops and the US Africa Command”. Beyond this reference, no source directly implicated the US in the operation. However, the Somali government’s reference to airstrikes has in the past indicated US involvement; it could also refer to Turkish involvement or United Arab Emirates involvement.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Infrastructure
    Vehicle
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Suspected belligerents
    International Forces (Unknown), Somali Military Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al-Shabaab
  • Belligerents reported killed
    22–30

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

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International Forces (Unknown) Assessment:

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

Somali Military Forces Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Infrastructure
    Vehicle
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Suspected belligerents
    International Forces (Unknown), Somali Military Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al-Shabaab
  • Belligerents reported killed
    22–30

Sources (4) [ collapse]