Civilian Casualties

Vicinity of Quy Cad near Debatscile/ Dabad Shil, Mudug, Somalia

LOCATION

AFRICOM reported that the previous day it had “conducted two (2) airstrikes in the vicinity of Debatscile, Somalia targeting al-Shabaab militants on November 19, 2018”. This entry records the first of of these events. AFRICOM asserted that “We currently assess these airstrikes did not injure or kill any civilians.” It also claimed that “the first

Summary

هجين, Hajin, Deir Ezzor, Syria

LOCATION

Between four and 26 civilians died in alleged US-led Coalition airstrikes on the town of Hajin on November 10th, 2018, according to local sources. An unknown number of others was injured. Sources claimed that many of the victims were women and children. Sana News put the death toll at four, reporting that “the US-led coalition carried

Summary

4 – 26

(2 children2 women)

هجين, Hajin, Deir Ezzor, Syria

LOCATION

Local media reported that between 11 and 26 civilians died in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Hajin, in what some sources described as “a massacre”. In June 2019 the Coalition accepted responsibility for just one death in this event, with their monthly civilian casualty report noting: “Near Hajin, Syria, via media report. Coalition aircraft conducted

Summary

11 – 26

(2–3 children2 women)

12–24

5 named, 1 familiy identified

LOCATION

Somalia

Responding to allegations that it had conducted a November 18th airstrike on a radio station in Jilib, AFRICOM informed local media via Twitter that “it has not conducted an airstrike in Somalia since Nov. 3.” There were no publicly reported strikes on this date, and Airwars has reached out to AFRICOM for clarification. U.S. Africa

Summary

هجين, Hajin, Deir Ezzor, Syria

LOCATION

In an incident previously not tracked by Airwars, the Coalition later confirmed the injuries of four civilians in an airstrike near Hajin. There are indications that this was either a French or Dutch action. In its April 2019 civilian casualty report, the Coalition noted: “Coalition aircraft conducted one strike on a Daesh improvised explosive device

Summary

حرمك, Vicinity of Kunyo Barrow, Lower Juba, Somalia

LOCATION

AFRICOM publicly reported that it had “conducted conducted an airstrike targeting al-Shabaab militants in the vicinity of Kunyo Barrow, Somalia, on October 25, 2018”. It added: “We also currently assess this airstrike did not injure or kill any civilians.” However, AFRICOM claimed that the airstrike “killed two (2) militants and destroyed one (1) vehicle.” Voice

Summary

Araara, Lower Juba, Somalia

LOCATION

Four al Shabaab fighters were killed as the US carried out a strike in Somalia in the vicinity of Araara, Lower Juba region, after partner forces came under attack from small arms fire, a US Africa Command press release stated. The press release called it a “collective self-defense airstrike.” No US service members were apparently

Summary

LOCATION

Jowle, Mudug, Somalia

At least 60 and as many as 117 al Shabaab fighters were killed in a US strike on October 12th, it was reported. The location appears to have been a training camp, according to Voice of America, which noted: “A Somali official says the strike happened near the village of Jowle, about 20 kilometers southwest

Summary

60–117

حرمك, Kunyo Barrow, Lower Shabelle, Somalia

LOCATION

AFRICOM reported that the day previously it had “conducted an airstrike targeting an al-Shabaab militant in the vicinity of Kunyo Barrow, Somalia, on October 6, 2018.” It added: “We currently assess no civilians were injured or killed in this airstrike.” However, AFRICOM claimed that the action killed “(1) terrorist”. In a subsequent FOIA response obtained

Summary

Jamaame, Lower Juba, Somalia

LOCATION

US forces carried out a strike approximately 40 kilometres northeast of Kismayo after al Shabaab fighters attacked Somali forces, according to a US Africa Command press release. Nine al Shabaab fighters were allegedly killed and another injured, the US command claimed. The press release said AFRICOM had assessed that no civilians were killed or injured

Summary

Belligerents reported injured

50 km northwest of Kismayo, Lower Juba, Somalia

LOCATION

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

Airstrike, Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)

Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons

Causes of injury / death

18–20

العشار, Al Ashar, Al Bayda, Yemen

LOCATION

Two Yemeni National Army soldiers, including a Colonel, were reportedly killed by a US drone strike in Al Ashar, Yakla area of Bayda governorate, on the evening of September 18th 2018, according to multiple sources. Some however instead variously indicated that the strike killed two AQAP members, or two civilians. In a later press release,

Summary

1 – 2

(1–2 men)

مبارك, Mubaraak, Lower Shabelle, Somalia

LOCATION

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

Airstrike, Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)

Belligerents reported injured

وادي المرون, Wadi Al Maroun, Abyan, Yemen

LOCATION

Four alleged AQAP militants, including a leadership figure, were reportedly killed by a US drone strike against a car in Wadi Al Maroun, in the Khabr, Al Maraqisha area of Abyan governorate, on the morning of September 9th 2018. A US strike against AQAP in Abyan on that date was confirmed in a later US

Summary

40 km southwest of Mogadishu, Lower Shabelle, Somalia

LOCATION

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

46 km northeast of Kismayo, Lower Juba, Somalia

LOCATION

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. US

Summary

LOCATION

البيضاء, Al Bayda, Yemen

A US airstrike targeted AQAP in Bayda governorate on August 14th, according to CNN National Security reporter Ryan Browne (@rabrowne75). On August 30th, US Central Command stated that “six counterterrorism air strikes” against AQAP had been conducted since May 16th 2018, in “Shabwah, Hadramawt and Al-Bayda governorates”. The declared strike dates included August 14th. There

Summary

Leego, Lower Shabelle, Somalia

LOCATION

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

Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)

(1 child1 woman)

Small arms and light weapons

Suspected belligerent

Somali Military Forces

Al-Shabaab

3–4

Gobanle (Gobaale), Lower Shabelle, Somalia

LOCATION

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

(3 men)

1–4

near Ash Shajlah, Syria, Deir Ezzor, Syria

LOCATION

In an incident previously not tracked by Airwars, the Coalition later conceded the deaths of two civilians in an event near Ash Shajlah, Syria. The Pentagon later said this was a US action. In its May 2019 civilian casualty report, the Coalition noted “Coalition aircraft conducted a strike against a Daesh staging area. Regrettably, two

Summary

LOCATION

حضرموت, Hadramaut, Yemen

A US airstrike targeted AQAP in Hadhramout governorate on July 24th 2018, according to US Central Command. There were no known associated reports of a strike in Hadhramout on that day. The Bureau of Investigative Journalism noted in its original summary of this event that “US Central Command said it conducted strikes on July 22

Summary

Baar Sanguni, 50 km north of Kismayo, Lower Juba, Somalia

LOCATION

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

LOCATION

حضرموت, Hadramaut, Yemen

A US airstrike targeted AQAP in Hadhramout governorate on July 22nd 2018, according to US Central Command. There are no known public reports of a strike in Hadhramout on this date, though multiple sources indicated that there was a US drone strike in Marib (USYEMTr174-C) that killed at least three AQAP fighters. The Bureau of

Summary

السوسة, Al Soussa, Deir Ezzor, Syria

LOCATION

Up to thirteen civilians were allegedly killed when Coalition aircraft struck two or more houses in al Soussa, local sources reported. In September 2019, the Coalition’s monthly civilian casualty report noted: “In Deir ez-Zor, Syria, via self-report. Coalition aircraft conducted an airstrike against a Daesh explosive factory. Regrettably, two civilians were unintentionally killed as a

Summary

8 – 13

(1 child1 woman)

11 named, 2 families identified

البيضاء, شبوه, حضرموت, Hadramawt, Yemen

LOCATION

A US airstrike targeted AQAP in either Shabwah, Hadramawt or Al-Bayda governorate on June 30th 2018, according to CENTCOM. There were no known public reports of a strike on that date. According to the Yemen monitor New America: “On July 3rd, CENTCOM confirmed in an email to New America that it conducted two air strikes

Summary

البيضاء, شبوه, حضرموت, Hadramawt, Yemen

LOCATION

A US strike targeted AQAP in either Shabwah, Hadramawt or Al Bayda governorate on June 23rd 2018, according to CENTCOM. There are no known public reports of a US action on June 23rd. As Yemen monitor New America first noted: “On July 3rd, CENTCOM confirmed in an email to New America that it conducted two

Summary

Baar, Lower Juba, Somalia

LOCATION

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

Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)

Small arms and light weapons

Suspected belligerent

Al-Shabaab

Belligerents reported injured

1–3

الجزاع, Al Helo or al-Jazza village, Al Hassakah, Syria

LOCATION

Several sources reported up to fifteen civilians killed, including ten children and an unspecified number of women, when Coalition or other aircraft allegedly targeted the village of al Helo/ Al Jazza near al Dashisha, in southern Hassaka. Marsad al Hassaka initially stated that the bombardment took place “at dawn today” and caused the death of

Summary

(10 children2 women)

2–24

1 named, 1 familiy identified

Suspected belligerent