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

93 – 170

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 103 separate alleged incidents.

25 – 28
children likely killed
14 – 15
women likely killed
35
likely injured
91
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
267 – 435
Locally reported civilian deaths from U.S. Forces actions in Somalia.
103 seperate alleged incidents
Confirmed or Fair
93 – 170
Civilian deaths for which the reporting was assessed by Airwars as Fair, or have been Confirmed by U.S. Forces
38 seperate alleged incidents
Weak
89 – 98
Civilian deaths for which the reporting was assessed by Airwars as Weak.
26 seperate alleged incidents
Contested
74 – 147
Civilian deaths for which the reporting is assessed by Airwars as Contested.
24 seperate alleged incidents
Discounted
11 – 20
Civilian deaths were Discounted by Airwars after assessment.
15 seperate alleged incidents
552 incidents
Order results by:
Incident DatePublication Date

Incident Date

24 September 2019

Incident Code

USSOM248

Location

Near Ugungi, Lower Shabelle, Somalia
In an incident not originally declared publicly, AFRICOM officials later confirmed to Airwars that they had conducted a strike against al Shabaab in the lower Shabelle - for which they did not report either any militant or any civilian harm. Public Affairs Current Operations Branch Chief, Desiree Frame, told Airwars by email dated October 4th…

Summary

Published
24 September 2019
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Incident Date

17 September 2019

Incident Code

USSOM247

Location

NW of Kismayo, Lower Juba, Somalia
The US military carried out an airstrike on al Shabaab fighters - possibly high value - after they attacked a Somali patrol in the northwest of Kismayo, Lower Juba Province, according to a press release from US Africa Command. No civilian harm was reported in this incident. According to the official statement: "In coordination with…

Summary

Published
17 September 2019
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Incident Date

3 September 2019

Incident Code

USSOM245

Location

Road between Jilib and Kismayo, Middle Juba, Somalia
جيليب
An airstrike near Jilib killed one al Shabaab fighter, according to US Africa Command. There were no known reports of civilian harm, an official press statement asserted. "At this time, it is assessed the airstrike killed one (1) terrorist. Strikes near Jilib disrupt al-Shabaab’s freedom of maneuver.  Currently, we assess no civilians were injured or killed…

Summary

Published
3 September 2019
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Incident Date

3 September 2019

Incident Code

USSOM246

Location

Near Jilib, Middle Juba, Somalia
The United States carried out a second airstrike near Jilib on September 3rd 2019, this time against an "al-Shabaab associated vehicle", and with no known casualties. Details were revealed by AFRICOM in an email exchange with the Bureau of Investigative Journalism on October 4th 2019: "Separately, AFRICOM conducted an air strike targeting al-Shabaab equipment in…

Summary

Published
3 September 2019
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Incident Date

20 August 2019

Incident Code

USSOM244

Location

Kunya Barrow, Middle Juba, Somalia
The United States reported conducting an airstrike against al Shabaab in the vicinity of Qunyo Barrow on August 20th, which it asserted had "killed one (1) terrorist." According to a press release issued on the same day, "In coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia, U.S. Africa Command conducted an airstrike targeting an al-Shabaab terrorist…

Summary

Published
20 August 2019
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Incident Date

5 August 2019

Incident Code

USSOM243

Location

Salagle, Middle Juba, Somalia
Local reports - including by the former head of Somalia's national intelligence service - said that a senior al Shabaab figure was killed in Salagle. According to Mareeg, "al-Shabaab's chief of security, Sheikh Jafar Ali Mohamud, and a few other members were killed" in an event at Salagle. Other actions were reported at nearby Sakow…

Summary

Published
5 August 2019
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