Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident date

July 29, 2020

Incident Code

USSOM312-C

LOCATION

جيليب, Jilib, Middle Juba, Somalia

The US military reported on the same day that it had conducted an airstrike against al Shabaab fighters in the town of Jilib. However it was locally claimed that the attack had killed three young children, whose bodies were shown on social media. In a press release published on the evening of the attack, AFRICOM

Summary

First published
July 29, 2020
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Declared strike
Strike type
Airstrike, Drone Strike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
3
(3 children)
Cause of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Airwars civilian harm grading
Discounted
Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
Known belligerent
US Forces
Known target
Al Qaeda in East Africa
Named victims
3 named
Belligerents reported killed
1
Belligerents reported injured
1
View Incident

Incident date

September 14, 2009

Incident Code

USSOM008-C

LOCATION

مدينة ﺑﺮﺍﻭة, Baraawe, Lower Shabelle, Somalia

Up to six people, including at least one possible civilian, were killed and at least two possible civilians were wounded, as a US-launched raid targeted and reportedly killed a high value al Qaeda/ al Shabab member, Saleh Ali Saleh Nabhan, international media reported. The attack marked the first known lethal operation by US forces in

Summary

First published
September 14, 2009
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Declared strike
Strike type
Airstrike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
0 – 1
Civilians reported injured
0–2
Cause of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Known belligerent
US Forces
Known targets
Al Qaeda in East Africa, Al-Shabaab
Belligerents reported killed
2–6
Belligerents reported injured
0–2
View Incident

Incident date

March 3, 2008

Incident Code

USSOM006-C

LOCATION

Dhoobley, Lower Juba, Somalia

Up to six civilians were killed and as many as eight wounded as the US fired at least one and as many as three cruise missiles at Dhobley, a town in southern Somalia four miles from the Kenyan border, local and international sources reported. Pentagon spokesperson Bryan Whitman told AFP: “On March 2, the US

Summary

First published
March 3, 2008
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Declared strike
Strike type
Airstrike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
4 – 6
Civilians reported injured
3–8
Cause of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Known belligerent
US Forces
Known target
Al Qaeda in East Africa
Belligerents reported killed
2–3
View Incident

Incident date

June 1, 2007

Incident Code

USSOM005-C

LOCATION

Bargaal, Bari, Somalia

The destroyer USS Chafee, sailing off the coast of Somalia, fired ‘more than a dozen rounds from its 5-inch gun’ on militants in Bargal, north Somalia. The New York Times also reported that cruise missiles were fired. Somali government spokesmen claimed the strikes were launched after around 35 heavily armed militants landed on the coast near

Summary

First published
June 1, 2007
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Declared strike
Strike type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilian harm reported
No
Civilians reported killed
Unknown
Cause of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Known belligerent
US Forces
Known target
Al Qaeda in East Africa
Belligerents reported killed
8–12
View Incident

Incident date

January 23, 2007

Incident Code

USSOM004-C

LOCATION

Waldena, Lower Juba, Somalia

Up to eight people – some civilians – and one al Qaeda member, were killed as a US drone reportedly targeted, and later captured, a militant leader in Waldena. A fresh JSOC AC-130 strike in Somalia, reportedly operating from an airbase in eastern Ethiopia, targeted Ahmed Madobe, a deputy of ICU leader Hassan Turki. Madobe

Summary

First published
January 23, 2007
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Declared strike
Strike type
Airstrike, Drone Strike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
2 – 8
(2–3 women)
Cause of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Known belligerent
US Forces
Known target
Al Qaeda in East Africa
Belligerents reported killed
5–9
Belligerents reported injured
1
View Incident

Incident date

January 9, 2007

Incident Code

USSOM003-C

LOCATION

Xayo, Garer, Bankajirow and Badmadow, Ras Kambooni, Lower Juba, Somalia

Several people, possibly civilians, were left wounded as US airstrikes hit four towns near Ras Kamboni, including a terrorist training camp on Badmadow island, local and international media reported. Sources added that up to ten al Qaeda members were also killed. The strikes came just two days after the US-launched AC-130 attack in Ras Kamboni,

Summary

First published
January 9, 2007
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Declared strike
Strike type
Airstrike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
Unknown
Civilians reported injured
4–5
Cause of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Known belligerent
US Forces
Suspected belligerent
Ethiopian Military Forces
Known target
Al Qaeda in East Africa
Belligerents reported killed
5–10
Belligerents reported injured
4–5
View Incident

Incident date

January 8, 2007

Incident Code

USSOM002-C

LOCATION

Hayo, Lower Juba, Somalia

According to international and local reports, up to 31 civilians, including at least one child, were killed as the town of Hayi or Xayo was subjected to either US or Ethiopian-waged airstrikes. Heavy civilian casualties were reported in airstrikes on Hayi near Afmadow, 250km northwest of Ras Kamboni, and other parts of southern Somalia, in

Summary

First published
January 9, 2007
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Contested strike
Strike type
Airstrike, Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
4 – 31
(1 child1 woman1 man)
Cause of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Airwars civilian harm grading
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Suspected belligerents
US Forces, Ethiopian Military Forces
Suspected target
Al Qaeda in East Africa
Named victims
1 named
View Incident

Incident date

January 7, 2007

Incident Code

USSOM001-C

LOCATION

Ras Kamboni (possibly vicinity of Lag Badana Bushbush National Park), Lower Juba, Somalia

Up to eight civilians were reportedly killed as the US carried out an airstrike against al Qaeda leaders in Ras Kamboni, Lower Juba, international and local sources reported. Shortly after Ethiopian forces had invaded Somalia in late December 2006, the US carried out its first known combat operation within Somalia since the September 11 2001

Summary

First published
January 7, 2007
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Declared strike
Strike type
Airstrike, Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
2 – 8
(2–5 children)
Civilians reported injured
2–3
Cause of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Known belligerent
US Forces
Known target
Al Qaeda in East Africa
Belligerents reported killed
8–45
Belligerents reported injured
3
View Incident