Airwars assessment
The United States announced an airstrike against Al-Shabaab militants in the Lower Shabelle region on 24 December, 2024. The strike, which took place approximately 10 km southwest of Quyno Barrow, reportedly killed two Al-Shabaab members, including a lead commander, Mohamed Mire.
AFRICOM released a statement on December 26th announcing that “In coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia, U.S. Africa Command conducted an airstrike against the al-Shabaab militant network in Somalia on Dec. 24, 2024. The strike occurred approximately 10 km southwest of Quyno Barrow. The command’s initial assessment is that the strike killed two al-Shabaab militants and no civilians were harmed.”
The operation was carried out with cooperation from the Somali government, who called the strike “meticulously planned”. Speaking to Voice of America, Lower Shabelle Region Governor Mohamed Ibrahim Barre specified that Mire was “was traveling from the town of Jilib to Kunyo Barrow when he was targeted”. As the head of Al-Shabaab’s “regions departments” – similar to an interior ministry – Mire had been a wanted target for both the US and Somali governments. He was previously included on a Somali sanctions list for money-laundering, and had been designated as a “global terrorist” by the United States since October 2022. The US had “previously targeted Mire for his role in planning and executing attacks against both Somali and international targets”, according to Garowe Online. Prior to his role heading the group’s regional department, Mire had, according to Long War Journal, been the group’s “shadow governor for Somalia’s central Hiraan region” and subsequently the “Zakat emir”, supervising taxation efforts. The Star reported that Mire had been the Al-Shabaab “finance head” during two notorious attacks in Kenya: the 2013 Westgate Mall attack and the 2019 Nairobi DusitD2 complex attack. Al-Shabaab later confirmed his death, announcing that he had been involved in militant activities for at least three decades.
Garowe posited that the strike had taken place in the “early […] morning”, while the Al-Shabaab statement claimed “the night of December 24”. While AFRICOM reported an airstrike, other reportage specified a drone.
The local time of the incident is unknown.
Summary
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Source: Ministry of Information, Culture & Tourism X
US Forces Assessment:
Original strike reports
In coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia, U.S. Africa Command conducted an airstrike against the al-Shabaab militant network in Somalia on Dec. 24, 2024.
The strike occurred approximately 10 km southwest of Quyno Barrow.
The command's initial assessment is that the strike killed two al-Shabaab militants and no civilians were harmed.
U.S. Africa Command takes great measures to prevent civilian harm.
Protecting innocent civilians remains a vital part of the command's operations to promote a more secure and stable Africa.
Somalia remains central to the security environment in East Africa. U.S.
Africa Command's forces will continue training, advising, and equipping partner forces to degrade al- Shabaab.
The command will continue to assess the results of the operation and provide additional information as appropriate. Specific details about the units involved and assets used will not be released to ensure operational security.
U.S. Africa Command, headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany, works with partners to counter malign actors and international threats, responds to crises, and strengthens security forces to advance U.S. national interests and promote regional security, stability, and prosperity.