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

18 March 2019

Incident Code

USSOM209-C

Location

Laantabuur or Abdow Dibile, Lower Shabelle, Somalia
Up to four civilians were killed in a US strike in the Lower Shabelle region, international media and investigating NGOs reported from the ground, though US Africa Command claimed that the strike had only killed three "terrorists." It later again officially denied causing any civilian casualties. Initially, allegations of civilian harm came from a Reuters…

Summary

Published
18 March 2019
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Incident Date

15–16 March, 2019

Incident Code

USSOM208

Location

Jilib Marka, Lower Shabelle, Somalia
A Mareeg Media report from March 16th 2019 asserted that US-backed Somali forces had carried out an "air and ground operation" near Marka Town in Jilib Marka, 91km southwest of Mogadishu. Citing anonymous Somali military officials, Mareeg said that "at least" 22 "militants" were killed in the operation, including 'senior al Shabaab commanders' Abu Yasin…

Summary

Published
16 March 2019
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Incident Date

13 March 2019

Incident Code

USSOM207

Location

Malayle, between Bar Sanguni and Jamame, Lower Juba, Somalia
US Africa Command stated in a press release issued the following day that it carried out an airstrike in the vicinity of Malayle, Lower Juba region on March 13th 2019. AFRICOM stated unusually that it had carried out "a collective self-defense airstrike," explaining that "Somali National Security Forces (SNSF) were conducting a presence patrol in…

Summary

Published
13 March 2019
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Incident Date

12 March 2019

Incident Code

USSOM206

Location

Huley, Lower Shabelle, Somalia
US Africa Command confirmed that it had carried out an airstrike on March 12th 2019 in the vicinity of Huley, Lower Shabelle Region. According to AFRICOM, the airstrike killed two "terrorists", and "at this time, it is assessed no civilians were injured or killed in this airstrike." In September 2019, the TRT World Research Centre…

Summary

Published
12 March 2019
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Incident Date

11 March 2019

Incident Code

USSOM205-C

Location

Darusalaam, Lower Shabelle, Somalia
دار السلام
The US conducted a confirmed airstrike on March 11th 2019 in the vicinity of Dara Salaam near Awdegle, Lower Shabelle Region, in "self-defense". AFRICOM stated at the time that the airstrike - which it said killed eight al Shabaab militants - "was conducted in support of Somali-led ground forces that came under attack from militants"…

Summary

Published
11 March 2019
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Incident Date

7 March 2019

Incident Code

USSOM203

Location

Bur Madow area, Bay, Somalia
A possible US or Kenyan airstrike was conducted in the Bur Madow area, Bay region according to Mareeg Media. The article, published a day after the alleged strike, did not state if anybody had been killed. According to Mareeg: "Unknown fighter jets carried out an airstrike targeting Al-Shabaab foreign fighters in south west of Somalia. The…

Summary

Published
7 March 2019
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