Civilian Casualties

30 miles southwest of Mogadishu, Lower Shabelle, Somalia

LOCATION

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

السوسة, Al Soussa: al Boubadran, Deir Ezzor, Syria

LOCATION

According to local sources, two civilians were killed and two civilians were injured in a declared Coalition airstrike on the town of Al Soussa on May 27, 2018. Euphrates Post, Lawhat Bukmalna and Deir Ezzor 24 reported that Issa Mohammed al-Debs, an Abu Kamal local, was killed by an air raid on the Boubdran district

Summary

(1 woman)

وادي الخورة, Wadi Khora, Shabwa, Yemen

Suspected belligerent

LOCATION

A civilian, who most sources reported to be a 17-year old child, was reportedly killed by a US drone strike in Wadi Khora area in Shabwa, before sunset on May 25th 2018. In a later press release, US Central Command stated that a strike had been conducted on that day, citing three possible provinces. Since

Summary

(1 child1 man)

1 named

1–2

Arbiska, Lower Shabelle, Somalia

LOCATION

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

السفينة و حويجة, Mashraq village, Nineveh, Iraq

LOCATION

According to local reports, airstrikes targeted villages south of Mosul on the morning of May 14th and resulted in considerable damage – and injured between two and five civilians. The Coalition later conceded injuring 13 civilians in the event. Yaqein quoted a local source that stated that “An aircraft believed to be an American fired

Summary

وادي الخورة, Wadi Khora, Shabwa, Yemen

LOCATION

At least two men were reportedly killed by a US drone strike in Wadi Khora, Merkhat area of Shabwa governorate, overnight from May 14th-15th 2018. Though most sources suggested that those killed were AQAP militants, a brother of one of the dead denied to Associated Press that either were members of AQAP or ISIS. A

Summary

1 – 2

(1–2 men)

2 named

1–4

Khatuniya, Al Hassakah, Syria

LOCATION

In an incident previously untracked by Airwars, the Coalition later confirmed the death of one civilian in an event near Khatuniya. The Pentagon later reported this to have been a US action. According to CJTFOIR’s June 2019 civilian casualty report: “Coalition forces engaged in a small arms fire event. Regrettably, one civilian was unintentionally killed

Summary

Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)

Small arms and light weapons

Bulcida Macalinka (northeast), Lower Shabelle, Somalia

LOCATION

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

Airstrike, Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)

(5 men)

Small arms and light weapons

US Forces, Somali Military Forces

Known belligerents

3–5

وادي رفض, Wadi Rafd, Shabwa, Yemen

LOCATION

An alleged AQAP militant was reportedly killed by a US drone strike in the Rafd area, in the Al Said district of Shabwa governorate, on the evening of April 26th 2018. A US strike took place in Shabwa on that day, a CENTCOM spokesperson later told the Long War Journal. Since there were no other

Summary

مفقه ,الحزم, Mafqa, Al Hazma, Shabwa, Yemen

LOCATION

Two young men, who pro-AQAP feeds indicated may have been civilians, were reportedly killed by a US drone strike in Al Hazm, in the Beihan area on the borders of Shabwa and Bayda governorates, overnight from April 22nd-23rd 2018. It was later suggested that they were instead killed by a Houthi landmine. Local language news

Summary

Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Planted explosives and unexploded ordnance (UXO)

(2 men)

Causes of injury / death

2 named

ليغو, Leego, Lower Shabelle, Somalia

LOCATION

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

Jana Cabdalle, Lower Shabelle, Somalia

LOCATION

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

LOCATION

حضرموت, Hadramaut, Yemen

A US strike took place in Hadhramout governorate on April 11th 2018, a US Central Command spokesperson told Long War Journal, one of two declared actions on that date. At least one of the strikes targeted “an AQAP training camp in western Hadramawt governorate.” There were multiple local reports at the time of airstrikes against

Summary

السوط, Al Sout, Hadramaut, Yemen

LOCATION

A US airstrike targeted an AQAP training camp in western Hadramout governorate on April 11th 2018, according to a later US Central Command statement. There were multiple local reports at the time of airstrikes against AQAP in the mountainous Al Sout area of western Hadramout at dawn on that day, though most sources assigned responsibility

Summary

Suspected belligerent

Saudi-led Coalition

جيليب, Jilib, Middle Juba, Somalia

LOCATION

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

Ceel Buur, Mudug, Somalia

LOCATION

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

2 – 4

(1 child1 woman2 men)

2–5

العقلة, Al Uqlah, Al Bayda, Yemen

LOCATION

Four related civilians were reportedly killed, and at least one wounded, by a US drone strike against a vehicle in Al Mandhari village, in the Sama’a district of Bayda governorate, at around 2pm on March 29th 2018. According to Mwatana, the combatant status of the fifth man was unclear. A US Defense spokesperson initially stated

Summary

(4 men)

1–2

5 named, 1 familiy identified

3–4

2–3

البوكمال, Near Abu Kamal, Deir Ezzor, Syria

LOCATION

In a previously unknown event, the UK for the first time admitted that its forces caused civilian harm during an airstrike against so-called Islamic State. In a written statement to Parliament on May 2nd, UK Secretary of State for Defence Gavin Williamson MP stated that “one civilian was unintentionally killed,” when a UK Reaper drone

Summary

مبارك, Mubaraak, Lower Shabelle, Somalia

LOCATION

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

Vicinity of Jamecco and Singulle, Middle Shabelle, Somalia

LOCATION

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

الهدي, Al Hudhi, Hadramaut, Yemen

LOCATION

A US strike took place in Hadhramout governorate on March 13th 2018, a US Central Command spokesperson later told the Long War Journal. Two sources, @yemencurrent and @Dr_E_Kendall, reported at the time that a US drone strike had killed two alleged AQAP militants in Al Hudhi, in Hadhramout governorate, according to a pro-AQAP feed. The

Summary

Kamsuuma, Lower Juba, Somalia

LOCATION

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

على الحدود بين مديرية خب و الشعف و مديرية العبر, At the border between Khab wa Ash Sha'f the and the Al Abr district , Hadramaut, Yemen

LOCATION

Six civilians, including a teenage boy, were reportedly killed by a US drone strike while driving in the border region between Al-Jawf and Hadramout governorates, at around 3pm on March 8th 2018. The Yemeni Minister of Human Rights, Mohamed Askar, condemned the attack as “extrajudicial killings”. A US Central Command spokesperson later told the Long

Summary

(1 child5 men)

6 named, 1 familiy identified

الهدي, Al Hudhi, Hadramaut, Yemen

LOCATION

One civilian was reportedly killed by a US drone strike in Al Hudhi, Hadhramout, at around 5pm on March 7th 2018, “a member of his family and independent observers” told The Intercept. Saleh al-Wuhair was reportedly killed as he stood on a hill in the area, looking for a mobile phone signal. No other known

Summary

(1 man)

الرويك, 60km from Al Ruwayk IDP Camp, Hadramaut, Yemen

LOCATION

A child was reported killed, and his older cousin injured, by a likely US drone strike in Al Abr, in Hadramout governorate, at around 4pm on March 5th 2018. A US Central Command spokesperson later told the Long War Journal that a strike had taken place in Hadramout on that date. CENTCOM also told the

Summary

(1 child)

2 named, 1 familiy identified

الخضارة, Al Khudaira, Hadramaut, Yemen

LOCATION

Two bodies of alleged AQAP militants, reportedly killed by a US drone strike, were found in or near Al-Abr district, in Hadramout governorate, at some time from March 4th to March 5th. There were no known associated reports of civilian harm. Local sources told Elganob that two AQAP members had been killed by a US

Summary

مديرية العبر, Al Abr District, Hadramaut, Yemen

LOCATION

Up to four alleged AQAP militants, including a leadership figure, were reportedly killed by a US drone strike in Zamakh and Manakh, in the Al Abr district of Hadramout governorate, between the evening of March 4th-5th 2018. There were no known associated reports of civilian harm. Late on March 5th, local language sources including @SkyNewsArabia_B

Summary

2–4

Near al Shaafah, Deir Ezzor, Syria

LOCATION

In an event previously untracked by Airwars, the Coalition reported in its monthly civilian casualty report for September 2019 (published November 16th) that it had killed a civilian during an airstrike at Al Shaafah. The Pentagon later declared this to be a US action. According to the OIR report, “March 1, 2018, near Al Shafah,

Summary