U.S. Forces in Somalia

US forces began conducting airstrikes against Al-Qaeda in Somalia in 2007. Following Ethiopia’s military intervention and the capture of large swathes of the country by Al-Shabaab, US forces escalated their air campaign.

Airwars has documented numerous allegations of civilian harm from US strikes in Somalia since 2007.

Airwars estimate of civilian deaths

92 – 167

Locally reported civilian deaths from declared or likely U.S. Forces actions in Somalia for which the reporting was assessed by Airwars as Fair, or have been Confirmed by the U.S. Forces. These originate from 101 separate alleged incidents.

25 – 28
children likely killed
14 – 15
women likely killed
35
likely injured
90
named victims

U.S. Forces estimate of civilian deaths

6

Confirmed civilian deaths, from U.S. Forces actions in Somalia, originating from 5 separate incidents of civilian harm.

11
civilians confirmed injured
Alleged deaths
245 – 407
Locally reported civilian deaths from U.S. Forces actions in Somalia.
101 seperate alleged incidents
Confirmed or Fair
92 – 167
Civilian deaths for which the reporting was assessed by Airwars as Fair, or have been Confirmed by U.S. Forces
37 seperate alleged incidents
Weak
89 – 98
Civilian deaths for which the reporting was assessed by Airwars as Weak.
26 seperate alleged incidents
Contested
53 – 122
Civilian deaths for which the reporting is assessed by Airwars as Contested.
23 seperate alleged incidents
Discounted
11 – 20
Civilian deaths were Discounted by Airwars after assessment.
15 seperate alleged incidents
447 incidents
Order results by:
Incident DatePublication Date

Incident Date

16 December 2018

Incident Code

USSOM171

Location

غندرشي, Gandarshe, Lower Shabelle, Somalia
AFRICOM publicly reported two strikes on the same area on the same day – asserting that it had killed 28 al Shabaab militants in total in the vicinity of Gandarshe.  Another four strikes took place at the same location the previous day on December 15th, it said – killing another 34 militants. “All six airstrikes…

Summary

Published
16 December 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike
Military actors reported killed
28
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

15 December 2018

Incident Code

SOM121a

Location

غندرشي, Gandarshe, Lower Shabelle, Somalia
AFRICOM publicly reported four strikes on the same area on the same day – asserting that it had killed 34 al Shabaab militants in total in the vicinity of Gandarshe.  Another two strikes took place on December 16th, it said – killing another 28 militants. “All six airstrikes were conducted in close coordination with the…

Summary

Published
15 December 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike
Military actors reported killed
26
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

15 December 2018

Incident Code

USSOM170

Location

غندرشي, Gandarshe, Lower Shabelle, Somalia
AFRICOM publicly reported four strikes on the same area on the same day – asserting that it had killed 34 al Shabaab militants in total in the vicinity of Gandarshe.  Another two strikes took place on December 16th, it said – killing another 28 militants. “All six airstrikes were conducted in close coordination with the…

Summary

Published
15 December 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

15 December 2018

Incident Code

USSOM167

Location

غندرشي, Mountainous area near Gandarshe, Lower Shabelle, Somalia
AFRICOM publicly reported the first of four strikes on the same area on the same day - asserting that it had killed eight al Shabaab militants in the vicinity of Gandarshe. The tweet was issued shortly after noon GMT, indicating that the attack was earlier that morning. Two days later AFRICOM revealed that it had…

Summary

Published
15 December 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike
Military actors reported killed
8
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

15 December 2018

Incident Code

USSOM169

Location

غندرشي, Gandarshe, Lower Shabelle, Somalia
AFRICOM publicly reported four strikes on the same area on the same day – asserting that it had killed 34 al Shabaab militants in total in the vicinity of Gandarshe.  Another two strikes took place on December 16th, it said – killing another 28 militants. “All six airstrikes were conducted in close coordination with the…

Summary

Published
15 December 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

8–9 December, 2018

Incident Code

USSOM166-C

Location

Baladul Rahma, Lower Shabelle, Somalia
One civilian was reportedly killed and another injured in a confirmed US airstrike in Baladul Rahma near Basra, Somalia according to a field investigation by Amnesty International - though US Africa Command continues to deny that any civilians were harmed. In a press release from AFRICOM issued at the time, it had said it carried…

Summary

Published
8 December 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
1–2
Military actors reported killed
3–4
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident