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

26 February 2018

Incident Code

USSOM119

Location

Jilib, Middle Juba, Somalia
جيليب
AFRICOM reported that the previous day it had "conducted an airstrike against al-Shabaab militants on Feb. 26, in the vicinity of Jilib, Somalia". It added: "We assess no civilians were killed in this strike." However, AFRICOM claimed that the airstrike killed two terrorists and wounded two more. Shabelle Media Network had reported a strike carried out…

Summary

Published
26 February 2018
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Incident Date

21 February 2018

Incident Code

USSOM118-C

Location

Bangeeni, Lower Juba, Somalia
Up to five people, including two reported civilians, were killed in a US military airstrike that hit in the vicinity of Jamaame, in Somalia's Lower Juba region, international media reported. According to a US Africa Command press release, a US strike on al Shabaab killed four members of the group. VOA reporter Khadar Hared tweeted that…

Summary

Published
21 February 2018
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Incident Date

19 February 2018

Incident Code

USSOM117

Location

Jilib, Middle Juba, Somalia
جيليب
AFRICOM reported that two days previously it had "conducted an airstrike against al-Shabaab militants on Feb. 19, in the vicinity of Jilib, Somalia". It added: "We assess no civilians were killed in this strike." However, AFRICOM claimed that the attack had killed "three (3) terrorists." Voice of America said that "Local residents in the region reported…

Summary

Published
19 February 2018
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Incident Date

6 February 2018

Incident Code

USSOM116

Location

Vicinity of Kunya Barrow, Middle Juba, Somalia
حرمك
The US carried had so far carried out ten strikes since the start of the year, a US Africa Command spokesperson confirmed to the Bureau of Investigative Journalism (BIJ) at the start of April, which had recorded only six publicly reported strikes. The spokesperson provided details on the strikes BIJ had not recorded: "The first…

Summary

Published
6 February 2018
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Incident Date

18 January 2018

Incident Code

USSOM115-C

Location

Jameeco Jilyaale near Beled ul Amin, Lower Shabelle, Somalia
The US confirmed it had accompanied Somali troops in a mission that rescued 30 to 32 boys from an al Shabaab indoctrination centre in the Lower Shabelle region. However, during the rescue attempt, fire reportedly from Somali forces reportedly killed four or five children, and a teacher. A later US government FOIA response indicated that…

Summary

Published
18 January 2018
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Incident Date

18 January 2018

Incident Code

USSOM114

Location

Beer Xaani, Lower Juba, Somalia
AFRICOM reported that the previous day it had "conducted an airstrike against al-Shabaab militants on Jan. 18, approximately 50 kilometers northwest of Kismayo". It added: "No civilians were killed in this strike." However, AFRICOM claimed that the airstrike killed "four (4) terrorists." In a subsequent FOIA response obtained by journalist Joshua Eaton in May 2019, AFRICOM …

Summary

Published
18 January 2018
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