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 Date Publication Date

Incident Date

27 August 2018

Incident Code

USSOM143

Location

40 km southwest of Mogadishu, Lower Shabelle, Somalia
US forces carried out a strike on August 27th killing three alleged members of al Shabaab, US Africa Command declared two days later, The strike hit approximately 40 kilometers southwest of Mogadishu. The official statement read: "In coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia, U.S. forces conducted an airstrike targeting al-Shabaab militants approximately 40 kilometers…

Summary

Published
27 August 2018
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Incident Date

21 August 2018

Incident Code

USSOM142

Location

46 km northeast of Kismayo, Lower Juba, Somalia
US forces carried out a strike on August 21st, killing two al Shabaab fighters, according to a press release from US Africa Command. The strike hit approximately 46 kilometers northeast of Kismayo, a port city in southern Somalia. The Command said it had assessed that no civilians were killed or injured in this strike. https://twitter.com/criticalthreats/status/1032373345973460995

Summary

Published
21 August 2018
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Incident Date

20–26 August, 2018

Incident Code

USSOM141-C

Location

Basra, Lower Shabelle, Somalia
An investigation by journalist Amanda Sperber identified a possible US airstrike near Basra around the time of Eid in August 2018, which allegedly killed between 10 and 12 members of the same family. Airwars has provided a relatively wide date range for this event, based on limited reporting. The investigation, published by The Nation in…

Summary

Published
20 August 2018
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Incident Date

14 August 2018

Incident Code

USSOM140-C

Location

Vicinity of Baladul-Rahma and Geeshaan, near Basraa, Lower Shabelle, Somalia
In a major Amnesty International report on civilian harm in Somalia, published in March 2019, the NGO made passing reference to a civilian harm event on August 14th the previous year in the vicinity of Baladul-Rahma and Geeshaan, near Basraa. According to the report, "on 14 August 2018, the US military conducted additional air strikes…

Summary

Published
14 August 2018
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Incident Date

11 August 2018

Incident Code

USSOM139-C

Location

Leego, Lower Shabelle, Somalia
Local reporters alleged that US and Somali forces had killed four civilians including a mother and child, during an operation in Leego. Caasimada alleged that the civilians were killed around midnight, by Somali troops accompanied by 'white US officers', and claimed that the attacking forces had flown there from a military base to the north.…

Summary

Published
11 August 2018
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Incident Date

2 August 2018

Incident Code

USSOM138-C

Location

Gobanle (Gobaale), Lower Shabelle, Somalia
Three civilians were reportedly killed in a US strike in Gobanle village, according to Amnesty International - though US Africa Command claimed that only four "terrorists" were killed. However an AFRICOM declassified assessment of the event published in July 2019 indicated that the US itself was unaware of the identities of those in the vehicle…

Summary

Published
2 August 2018
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