Civilian Casualties

LOCATION

In an incident not previously tracked by Airwars, the Coalition later confirmed the injury of a civilian in an event near Hajin, Syria. The Pentagon later declared this to have been a US-caused incident. Their September 2019 civilian casualty report noted: “Coalition aircraft conducted an airstrike against Daesh terrorists. Regrettably, one civilian was unintentionally wounded

Summary

Baladul Rahma, Lower Shabelle, Somalia

LOCATION

One civilian was reportedly killed and another injured in a confirmed US airstrike in Baladul Rahma near Basra, Somalia according to a field investigation by Amnesty International – though US Africa Command continues to deny that any civilians were harmed. In a press release from AFRICOM issued at the time, it had said it carried

Summary

(1 man)

1–2

3–4

Awdheegle, Lower Shabelle, Somalia

LOCATION

Four al Shabaab fighters were reported killed as the US carried out what it said was a self-defence strike in the vicinity of Awdheegle, Lower Shabelle, after US and partner forces came under attack, US Africa Command said in a statement. Associated Press gave a detailed report on the event: “Somali commandos backed by U.S.

Summary

Geelway mountain, Mudug, Somalia

LOCATION

AFRICOM reported that the previous day, it had “conducted an airstrike targeting al-Shabaab militants near Lebede, Somalia on November 30, 2018”. It said that there had been no civilian harm. However, AFRICOM claimed that the airstrike had killed “nine (9) militants”. Voice of America reporter Harun Maruf provided a more detailed location. “Statement says strike

Summary

Debatscile, Mudug, Somalia

LOCATION

AFRICOM reported that the previous day it had “conducted an airstrike targeting al-Shabaab militants in the vicinity of Quy Cad near Debatscile, Somalia on November 27, 2018”. It added: “We currently assess this airstrike did not injure or kill any civilians.” However, AFRICOM claimed that the airstrike had “killed three (3) militants”. It added “This follows

Summary

هجين, Hajin , Deir Ezzor, Syria

LOCATION

A named male civilian was reported killed in a confirmed Coalition air or artillery strike on Hijan when it struck his home. All sources blamed the Coalition for the event. Some sources reported that the incident was on November 24th and others on the 25th. The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that the Coalition

Summary

(1 man)

Either Jimo-Luqunyar or Adaley, near Debatscile, Mudug, Somalia

Suspected belligerent

LOCATION

AFRICOM reported that the previous day it had “conducted two (2) airstrikes in the vicinity of Haradere, Somalia on November 21, 2018.” It added: “We currently assess these airstrikes did not injure or kill any civilians.” This assessment details the strike on the arms cache. Associated Press offered more detail on the attacks: “Somali intelligence

Summary

Jimo Luqunyar or Adaley, near Debatscile, Mudug, Somalia

LOCATION

AFRICOM reported that the previous day it had “conducted two (2) airstrikes in the vicinity of Haradere, Somalia on November 21, 2018.” It added: “We currently assess these airstrikes did not injure or kill any civilians.” However, AFRICOM claimed that “the first airstrike killed six (6) al-Shabaab militants and the second airstrike destroyed a weapons cache.”

Summary

LOCATION

Caad, Mudug, Somalia

AFRICOM reported the following day that it had “conducted an airstrike targeting al-Shabaab militants in the vicinity of Quy Cad, Somalia on November 20, 2018.” It added: “We currently assess this airstrike did not injure or kill any civilians.” However, AFRICOM claimed that the airstrike “killed seven (7) militants”. In a subsequent FOIA response obtained by

Summary

Debatcile, Mudug, Somalia

LOCATION

On November 20th 2019, AFRICOM reported that it had “conducted two (2) airstrikes in the vicinity of Debatscile, Somalia targeting al-Shabaab militants on November 19, 2018”. These are recorded as separate events, with the other that day near Quy Cad. AFRICOM asserted: “We currently assess these airstrikes did not injure or kill any civilians.” It

Summary

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

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)

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

Unknown

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)

Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)

Known belligerent

US Forces

Known target

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

Unknown

Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)

Known belligerent

US Forces

Known target

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