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

29 November 2017

Incident Code

USSOM107

Location

Tortoroow, Lower Shabelle, Somalia
A US airstrike targeted an al Shabaab training camp in Tortoorow, Lower Shabelle according to local media. While not declared by AFRICOM at the time, the US later admitted the event in a May 2019 FOIA response. According to Garowe Online, "The attack took place in Toratorow, a main al Shabaab stronghold town in the…

Summary

Published
29 November 2017
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Incident Date

27 November 2017

Incident Code

USSOM106

Location

Hills around Dasaan, Bari, Somalia
On the same day, AFRICOM reported that it had "conducted an airstrike against ISIS, in northeastern Somalia on Nov. 27". It added that "the strike occurred at approximately 3 p.m. local Somalia time" and made no mention of civilian harm. However, it did claim that the strike had "killed one terrorist". Reuters placed the attack near Qandala:…

Summary

Published
27 November 2017
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Incident Date

21 November 2017

Incident Code

USSOM105

Location

Bur Elade, Bay, Somalia
AFRICOM reported on the same day that it had "conducted an airstrike in Somalia against an al-Shabaab camp on Tuesday, Nov. 21 at approximately 10:30 a.m. local Somalia time". It added that "the operation occurred 125 miles northwest of the capital, Mogadishu" though AFRICOM made no mention of civilian harm. However, it claimed that the…

Summary

Published
21 November 2017
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Incident Date

14 November 2017

Incident Code

USSOM104

Location

Idow Jalaad, near Leego, Lower Shabelle, Somalia
A US strike killed "several" al Shabaab fighters in the seventh aerial attack in Somalia in six days. Lower Shabelle's deputy governor told Voice of America the strike had killed six al Shabaab fighters in the village of Idow Jalad. A statement from US Africa Command said the strike was carried out "in coordination with…

Summary

Published
14 November 2017
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Incident Date

13 November 2017

Incident Code

USSOM103

Location

Awhiigle, Gaduud, Lower Juba, Somalia
The sixth declared US strike in five days hit Somalia, targeting al Shabaab fighters, the US military told the Bureau of Investigative Journalism. An Africa Command spokesperson said the attack occurred at 0840 near Gaduud about 250 miles southwest of Mogadishu. As of November 15th, the US was still "assessing the results of the strike".…

Summary

Published
13 November 2017
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Incident Date

12 November 2017

Incident Code

USSOM101-C

Location

Southeast of Darusalaam, Lower Shabelle, Somalia
A US strike on al Shabaab fighters in the Lower Shabelle region also killed three civilians, Amnesty International later reported. Two US strikes took place in Somalia on November 12th, with one targeting al Shabaab and the other hitting Islamic State fighters, according to US Africa Command. The strikes killed "several fighters", it said. The…

Summary

Published
12 November 2017
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