Incident date
May 29, 2018
LOCATION
Bariire, Lower Shabelle, SomaliaA 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
Incident date
May 31, 2018
LOCATION
30 miles southwest of Mogadishu, Lower Shabelle, SomaliaAFRICOM 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
Incident date
May 23, 2018
LOCATION
Arbiska, Lower Shabelle, SomaliaA 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
Incident date
May 9, 2018
LOCATION
Bulcida Macalinka (northeast), Lower Shabelle, SomaliaFive 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
Incident date
April 16, 2018
LOCATION
ليغو, Leego, Lower Shabelle, SomaliaUS 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
Incident date
April 11, 2018
LOCATION
Jana Cabdalle, Lower Shabelle, SomaliaAFRICOM 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
Incident date
April 5, 2018
LOCATION
جيليب, Jilib, Middle Juba, SomaliaAFRICOM 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
Incident date
April 1, 2018
LOCATION
Ceel Buur, Mudug, SomaliaUp 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
Incident date
March 19, 2018
LOCATION
مبارك, Mubaraak, Lower Shabelle, SomaliaAFRICOM 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
Incident date
March 13, 2018
LOCATION
Vicinity of Jamecco and Singulle, Middle Shabelle, SomaliaA 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
Incident date
March 12, 2018
LOCATION
Kamsuuma, Lower Juba, SomaliaAFRICOM 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
Incident date
February 26, 2018
LOCATION
جيليب, Jilib, Middle Juba, SomaliaAFRICOM 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
Incident date
February 21, 2018
LOCATION
Bangeeni, Lower Juba, SomaliaUp 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
Incident date
February 19, 2018
LOCATION
جيليب, Jilib, Middle Juba, SomaliaAFRICOM 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
Incident date
February 6, 2018
LOCATION
حرمك, Vicinity of Kunya Barrow, Middle Juba, SomaliaThe US carried had so far 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 recorded only six publicly reported strikes. The spokesperson provided details on the strikes BIJ had not recorded: “The first
Summary
Incident date
January 18, 2018
LOCATION
Jameeco Jilyaale near Beled ul Amin, Lower Shabelle, SomaliaThe US confirmed it had accompanied Somali troops in a mission that rescued 30 to 32 boys from an al Shabaab indoctrination centre in the Lower Shabelle region. However, during the rescue attempt, fire reportedly from Somali forces reportedly killed four or five children, and a teacher. A later US government FOIA response indicated that
Summary
Incident date
January 18, 2018
LOCATION
Beer Xaani, Lower Juba, SomaliaAFRICOM reported that the previous day it had “conducted an airstrike against al-Shabaab militants on Jan. 18, approximately 50 kilometers northwest of Kismayo”. It added: “No civilians were killed in this strike.” However, AFRICOM claimed that the airstrike killed “four (4) terrorists.” In a subsequent FOIA response obtained by journalist Joshua Eaton in May 2019, AFRICOM
Summary
Incident date
January 2, 2018
LOCATION
Bariire, Lower Shabelle, SomaliaAFRICOM reported that the previous day it had “conducted an airstrike against al-Shabaab militants in the early morning hours of Jan. 2, 2018, approximately 50 kilometers west of the capital [Mogadishu]”. It added: “We assess no civilians were killed in this strike.” However, AFRICOM claimed that the airstrike killed “two terrorists” and destroyed “one vehicle-borne improvised
Summary
Incident date
December 27, 2017
LOCATION
مبارك, Mubaraak, Lower Shabelle, SomaliaOn December 28th 2017, AFRICOM reported that it had “conducted an airstrike against al-Shabaab militants in the early evening hours of Dec. 27, 2017, approximately 25 kilometres west of the capital”. It added that “we assess no civilians were killed in this strike”. However, AFRICOM claimed that the strike had “killed four terrorists”, adding that
Summary
Incident date
December 24, 2017
LOCATION
Ball Raho, between Buusaar and Burahache, Gedo, SomaliaOn December 27th 2017, AFRICOM reported that it had “conducted an airstrike against al-Shabaab militants on the morning of Dec. 24, 2017, in southern Somalia”. AFRICOM made no mention of civilian harm. However, it claimed that the strike had killed “13 terrorists”. The strike hit southern Somalia according to officials, though no additional location details were provided
Summary
Incident date
December 15, 2017
LOCATION
30 miles northwest of Kismayo, IVO Qudus, Lower Juba, SomaliaOn December 18th 2017, AFRICOM reported that it had “conducted an airstrike against al-Shabaab militants in the early evening hours on Friday, Dec. 15, approximately 30 miles northwest of Kismayo”. It added that “we assess no civilians were killed in the strike.” However, AFRICOM claimed that the strike had killed “eight (8) terrorists” and destroyed “one
Summary
Incident date
December 11, 2017
LOCATION
مبارك, Mubaraak, Lower Shabelle, SomaliaUS Forces carried out a strike against an “al-Shabaab vehicle-borne improvised explosive device” in the early hours of December 12th, US Africa Command announced, which it said had removed an “imminent threat to the people of Mogadishu”. The early morning strike hit 65 kilometers southwest of the capital, AFRICOM said (later noting that the strike
Summary
Incident date
December 6, 2017
LOCATION
130 km southwest of Mogadishu, Lower Shabelle, SomaliaBetween five and seven civilians, including two children, were killed when a vehicle carrying suspected al Shabaab fighters exploded in their village, after being hit by what is thought to have been a US airstrike – though US Africa Command deny any strikes in the area on this date. The explosion reportedly injured a further
Summary
Incident date
November 29, 2017
LOCATION
Tortoroow, Lower Shabelle, SomaliaA US airstrike targeted an al Shabaab training camp in Tortoorow, Lower Shabelle according to local media. While not declared by AFRICOM at the time, the US later admitted the event in a May 2019 FOIA response. According to Garowe Online, “The attack took place in Toratorow, a main al Shabaab stronghold town in the
Summary
Incident date
November 21, 2017
LOCATION
Bur Elade, Bay, SomaliaAFRICOM reported on the same day that it had “conducted an airstrike in Somalia against an al-Shabaab camp on Tuesday, Nov. 21 at approximately 10:30 a.m. local Somalia time”. It added that “the operation occurred 125 miles northwest of the capital, Mogadishu” though AFRICOM made no mention of civilian harm. However, it claimed that the
Summary
Incident date
November 14, 2017
LOCATION
Idow Jalaad, near Leego, Lower Shabelle, SomaliaA US strike killed “several” al Shabaab fighters in the seventh aerial attack in Somalia in six days. Lower Shabelle’s deputy governor told Voice of America the strike had killed six al Shabaab fighters in the village of Idow Jalad. A statement from US Africa Command said the strike was carried out “in coordination with
Summary
Incident date
November 13, 2017
LOCATION
Awhiigle, Gaduud, Lower Juba, SomaliaThe sixth declared US strike in five days hit Somalia, targeting al Shabaab fighters, the US military told the Bureau of Investigative Journalism. An Africa Command spokesperson said the attack occurred at 0840 near Gaduud about 250 miles southwest of Mogadishu. As of November 15th, the US was still “assessing the results of the strike”.
Summary
Incident date
November 12, 2017
LOCATION
Southeast of Darusalaam, Lower Shabelle, SomaliaA US strike on al Shabaab fighters in the Lower Shabelle region also killed three civilians, Amnesty International later reported. Two US strikes took place in Somalia on November 12th, with one targeting al Shabaab and the other hitting Islamic State fighters, according to US Africa Command. The strikes killed “several fighters”, it said. The
Summary
Incident date
November 11, 2017
LOCATION
Osman Gaduud, Lower Shabelle, SomaliaUS forces carried out a strike against al Shabaab at approximately 1630 local time on November 11, US Africa Command said. It made no mention of civilian harm. However, AFRICOM stated that the strike killed a single fighter, and that it took place near Gaduud, located 250 miles southwest of the capital, Mogadishu. This and
Summary
Incident date
November 10, 2017
LOCATION
2km north of Baasra, Lower Shabelle, SomaliaUS forces carried out a strike against al Shabaab at approximately 8pm local Somalia time killing “several” fighters, US Africa Command (AFRICOM) said. It was also alleged by local officials that three civilians had died. The strike hit the Lower Shabelle region. A Somali military official told Voice of America the strike, which they said