Civilian Casualty Archive

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480 incidents

Incident Date

21 September 2018

Incident Code

USSOM146

Location

50 km northwest of Kismayo, Lower Juba, Somalia
US forces carried out a 'self-defence strike' against al Shabaab on September 21st approximately 50 km northwest of Kismayo and killing 18 al Shabaab members, according to a press release from US Africa Command. According to AFRICOM "The U.S. airstrike was conducted against militants after U.S. and partner forces came under attack. We currently assess…

Summary

Published
21 September 2018
Strike Type
Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground), Airstrike
Military actors reported killed
18–20
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

19 September 2018

Incident Code

USSOM145-C

Location

سااكوو, Saakow, Middle Juba, Somalia
At least three children were killed as up to 12 al Shabaab members were targeted and killed by a night time airstrike, local and international media reported - though it was unclear who was behind the attack. Several senior al Shabaab officials were killed or wounded in an airstrike, Somalia intelligence officials reportedly said. The…

Summary

Published
19 September 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike
Infrastructure
Education
Civilians reported killed
3
Military actors reported killed
12
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

11 September 2018

Incident Code

USSOM144

Location

مبارك, Mubaraak, Lower Shabelle, Somalia
In a US strike in Mubaraak, two al Shabaab militants were killed along with a combatant with US partner forces, a US statement asserted the following day. Members of al Shabaab and the partner forces were also left wounded. US forces carried out a strike during a Somali partner forces-led operation against al­ Shabaab in…

Summary

Published
11 September 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike, Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
Military actors reported killed
2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

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
Strike Type
Airstrike
Military actors reported killed
3
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

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
Strike Type
Airstrike
Military actors reported killed
2
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

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
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
Civilians reported killed
10–12
Civilians reported injured
0–2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

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
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
Civilians reported killed
2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

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
Strike Type
Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
Civilians reported killed
4
Military actors reported killed
3–4
Causes of Death / Injury
Small arms and light weapons
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

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
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
3
Military actors reported killed
1–4
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

24–25 July, 2018

Incident Code

USSOM137

Location

Qalimow, Middle Shabelle, Somalia
Unknown aircraft were reported to have struck the vicinity of Qalimow village about 60km north of Mogadishu on the night of July 24th-25th. Villagers told local media that several missiles had targeted Al-Shabab vehicles. The attack - which almost all sources said was by drone - followed the recent recapture of Qalimow from Somalia forces.…

Summary

Published
23 July 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
Military actors reported killed
0–1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

23 July 2018

Incident Code

USSOM136

Location

Baar Sanguni, 50 km north of Kismayo, Lower Juba, Somalia
US forces carried out a strike against al Shabaab in an area around 50 kilometres north of Kismayo, a US Africa Command spokesperson later told the Bureau of Investigative Journalism. Post-strike analysis had not revealed the number of militants killed, a US spokesperson told the Bureau in an email exchange on July 31st. The event…

Summary

Published
23 July 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

22–27 July, 2018

Incident Code

USSOM135-C

Location

Marka, Lower Shabelle, Somalia
A strike reportedly hit a village outside Marka, a city around 60 miles south of Mogadishu, according to a field investigation by a reporter for The Nation. There were no reports of immediate civilian harm, though a man reportedly died of a heart attack following the violence. Airwars has placed this event in a date…

Summary

Published
22 July 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
Civilians reported killed
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Accidents related to conflict
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
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Incident Date

10–11 July, 2018

Incident Code

USSOM134

Location

Jawaari, Middle Juba, Somalia
An airstrike near the village of Jawaari was variously blamed on US and Kenyan forces. Mareeg, a Somali news outlet, reported a strike by unidentified jets which it said had potentially killed eight members of al Shabaab. The terror group itself reportedly denied that any of its fighters were killed. The source of Mareeg's information…

Summary

Published
10 July 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike
Military actors reported killed
8–13
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

8 June 2018

Incident Code

USSOM133

Location

Baar, Lower Juba, Somalia
An American Special Forces soldier was killed - later named as Staff Sergeant Alexander Conrad - and four others were wounded in an attack by al Shabaab fighters in Jubaland. A member of a partner force was also killed or injured. The US soldiers were among a large force of 800 Somali and Kenyan soldiers…

Summary

Published
8 June 2018
Strike Type
Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
Military actors reported killed
1–3
Causes of Death / Injury
Small arms and light weapons
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

3 June 2018

Incident Code

USSOM132

Location

24 miles southwest of Bosaso, Bari, Somalia
US Africa Command told the Bureau of Investigative Journalism (BIJ) in July 2018 that it had carried out two strikes in early June - one previously undisclosed. The second took place on June 3rd, and targeted members of al Shabaab approximately 24 miles southwest of Bosasso, according to AFRICOM. "We currently assess no terrorists and…

Summary

Published
3 June 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

2 June 2018

Incident Code

USSOM131

Location

Galgala mountains, 26 miles southwest of Bosaso, Bari, Somalia
On June 4th 2018, AFRICOM reported that it had "conducted an airstrike targeting al-Shabaab militants approximately 26 miles southwest of Bosasso, Somalia, on June 2". It added: "We currently assess no civilians were injured or killed in this airstrike." However, AFRICOM claimed that the airstrike killed "twenty-seven (27) terrorists." As Voice of America noted, "Saturday’s airstrike…

Summary

Published
2 June 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike
Military actors reported killed
27
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

31 May 2018

Incident Code

USSOM129

Location

30 miles southwest of Mogadishu, Lower Shabelle, Somalia
AFRICOM reported on the same day that it had "conducted an airstrike targeting al-Shabaab militants approximately 30 miles southwest of Mogadishu, Somalia, on May 31". It added: "We currently assess no civilians were injured or killed in this airstrike." However, AFRICOM claimed that the airstrike killed "twelve (12) terrorists". In a subsequent FOIA response obtained by…

Summary

Published
31 May 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike
Military actors reported killed
12
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

29 May–3 June, 2018

Incident Code

USSOM130-C

Location

Bariire, Lower Shabelle, Somalia
A suspected airstrike in a field outside Bariire, a village 30 miles west of Mogadishu, killed three boys and left one woman injured, according to The National. Journalist Amanda Sperber met Halimo Mohamed Abdi, a herder who was injured in the action: "The blast broke both her hips, left shrapnel embedded in her thigh, and…

Summary

Published
31 May 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
Civilians reported killed
3
Civilians reported injured
1
Military actors reported killed
0–12
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

23 May 2018

Incident Code

USSOM128

Location

Arbiska, Lower Shabelle, Somalia
A late night US strike on the village of Arbiska was reported by Radio Shabelle. According to the local news outlet, "Suspected American fighter jets were reported to have carried out an overnight airstrike in Lower Shabelle region, targeting Al-Shabaab bases, residents said. The strike happened on the outskirt of Arbiska village, located near the capital,…

Summary

Published
23 May 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike
Military actors reported killed
10
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

9–10 May, 2018

Incident Code

USSOM127-C

Location

Bulcida Macalinka (northeast), Lower Shabelle, Somalia
Five civilians were reportedly killed in a US and/or Somali-waged ground operation - possibly also involving airpower - in the Lower Shabelle region, local and international media reported. The US denied allegations of harm on several occasions. The raid was reportedly carried out by Somalia commandos, with the US saying American troops supported the mission…

Summary

Published
9 May 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike, Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
Civilians reported killed
5
Civilians reported injured
5
Military actors reported killed
3–5
Causes of Death / Injury
Small arms and light weapons
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

16 April 2018

Incident Code

USSOM126

Location

ليغو, Leego, Lower Shabelle, Somalia
US forces carried out a strike against al Shabaab militants on April 16th near Leego, an Africa Command spokesperson told the Bureau of Investigative Journalism in early May. AFRICOM made no mention of civilian harm. An AFRICOM spokespersons noted that "No terrorists were killed and no equipment was destroyed in this strike." Leego is described…

Summary

Published
16 April 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

11 April 2018

Incident Code

USSOM125

Location

Jana Cabdalle, Lower Shabelle, Somalia
AFRICOM reported that two days previously it had "conducted an airstrike destroying an al-Shabaab vehicle-borne improvised explosive device near Jana Cabdalle, Somalia, on the afternoon of April 11." AFRICOM made no mention of civilian harm. Additionally, AFRICOM did not state whether any belligerents had been killed in this strike. In a subsequent FOIA response obtained by…

Summary

Published
11 April 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

5 April 2018

Incident Code

USSOM124

Location

جيليب, Jilib, Middle Juba, Somalia
AFRICOM reported that the previous day it had "conducted an airstrike against Al-Shabaab militants near Jilib, Somalia, the afternoon of April 5". It added: "We assess no civilians were killed in this airstrike." However, AFRICOM claimed that the airstrike killed "three (3) terrorists" and destroyed "one (1) vehicle with a mounted heavy machine gun." In a…

Summary

Published
5 April 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike
Military actors reported killed
3
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

1 April 2018

Incident Code

USSOM123-C

Location

Ceel Buur, Mudug, Somalia
Up to four civilians, including one child and one woman, were killed along with up to five al Shabaab fighters as a US airstrike struck El Burr, Galmudug, international media reported. Following a year of denials, US Africa Command admitted in April 2019 that civilians had in fact died in the event - and that…

Summary

Published
1 April 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
3–4
Military actors reported killed
2–5
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

19 March 2018

Incident Code

USSOM122

Location

مبارك, Mubaraak, Lower Shabelle, Somalia
AFRICOM publicly reported that two days earlier, it had "conducted an airstrike against al-Shabaab on the morning of March 19 near Mubaarak, Somalia". The press release made no mention of civilian harm. However, AFRICOM claimed that the airstrike killed "two terrorists", wounded another "three terrorists" and destroyed "one vehicle". Voice of America reported the following:…

Summary

Published
19 March 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike
Military actors reported killed
2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

13 March 2018

Incident Code

USSOM121

Location

Vicinity of Jamecco and Singulle, Middle Shabelle, Somalia
A US airstrike killed 12 al Shabaab militants and wounded another 15 members as Jamecco, Middle Shabelle was struck, AFRICOM reported. The US carried had 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…

Summary

Published
13 March 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike
Military actors reported killed
12
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

12 March 2018

Incident Code

USSOM120

Location

Kamsuuma, Lower Juba, Somalia
AFRICOM said that it had carried out a strike on "al Shabaab fighters in the vicinity of Kamsuuma" on March 12th. It made no mention of civilian harm. The US had already carried out ten strikes since the start of the year, a US Africa Command spokesperson confirmed to the Bureau of Investigative Journalism (BIJ)…

Summary

Published
12 March 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

26 February 2018

Incident Code

USSOM119

Location

جيليب, Jilib, Middle Juba, Somalia
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
Strike Type
Airstrike
Military actors reported killed
2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

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
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
2
Military actors reported killed
3–5
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

19 February 2018

Incident Code

USSOM117

Location

جيليب, Jilib, Middle Juba, Somalia
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
Strike Type
Airstrike
Military actors reported killed
3
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident