Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident date

January 25, 2023

Incident Code

USSOM368

LOCATION

Almiskad mountains, Bari, Somalia

An ISIS leader and 10 of his associates were killed by a declared US counterterrorism operation in the Almiskad mountains of Bari region, Somalia on January 25, 2023. One US service member was injured during the operation when a dog bit him. AFRICOM initially released a statement that “the U.S. military conducted a successful counterterrorism operation

Summary

First published
January 25, 2023
Last updated
May 25, 2023
Strike status
Declared strike
Strike type
Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
Civilian harm reported
No
Civilians reported killed
Unknown
Cause of injury / death
Small arms and light weapons
Known belligerent
US Forces
Known target
ISIS - Somalia
Geolocation
Province/governorate
Belligerents reported killed
11
Belligerents reported injured
1
View Incident

Incident date

July 21, 2020

Incident Code

USSOM311

LOCATION

Timirshe, Bari, Somalia

Seven ISIS fighters were killed by a US airsrtrike near Timirshe, according to AFRICOM. The press release said: “In coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia, U.S. Africa Command conducted an airstrike against ISIS-Somalia terrorists after they attacked partner forces in a remote location near Timirshe, Somalia, July 21. Timirshe is located 140 kilometers southeast

Summary

First published
July 21, 2020
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Declared strike
Strike type
Airstrike, Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground), Drone Strike
Civilian harm reported
No
Civilians reported killed
Unknown
Cause of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Known belligerent
US Forces
Known target
ISIS - Somalia
Belligerents reported killed
7–8
Belligerents reported injured
1
View Incident

Incident date

October 25, 2019

Incident Code

USSOM251-C

LOCATION

Near Ameyra and Timirshe, Noogal, Somalia

A US drone strike intended to target an Islamic State hideout near the remote Ameyra and Timirshe villages in the Golis Mountain region, killed two civilians and injured another, according to multiple local and international media sources. However in April 2020, AFRICOM insisted the targets “were ISIS-Somalia leadership and media operatives.”” At the time of

Summary

First published
October 25, 2019
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Declared strike
Strike type
Airstrike, Drone Strike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
2
(2 men)
Civilians reported injured
1
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.
Known belligerent
US Forces
Known target
ISIS - Somalia
Named victims
3 named
Belligerents reported killed
3
View Incident

Incident date

July 27, 2019

Incident Code

USSOM240

LOCATION

Golis Mountains, Noogal, Somalia

The US military conducted a fresh airstrike on so-called Islamic State in Somaliland, reporting the next day that they had killed one senior member of the terrorist group in the Golis Mountains region. “At this time, it is assessed the airstrike killed one (1) terrorist who played a key role in facilitation for the group,

Summary

First published
July 27, 2019
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Declared strike
Strike type
Airstrike
Civilian harm reported
No
Civilians reported killed
Unknown
Cause of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Known belligerent
US Forces
Known target
ISIS - Somalia
Belligerents reported killed
1
View Incident

Incident date

June 4, 2019

Incident Code

USSOM231

LOCATION

Golis Mountains, Noogal, Somalia

The US military carried out an airstrike targeting ISIS-Somalia in the Golis Mountains, according to a press release the following day by US Africa Command. According to AFRICOM, the strike killed six ISIS-Somalia fighters, and was currently assessed as having caused no civilian harm. “The Golis Mountains are a known area for terrorist camps and

Summary

First published
June 4, 2019
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Declared strike
Strike type
Airstrike
Civilian harm reported
No
Civilians reported killed
Unknown
Cause of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Known belligerent
US Forces
Known target
ISIS - Somalia
Belligerents reported killed
6
View Incident

Incident date

May 22, 2019

Incident Code

USSOM226

LOCATION

Golis Mountains, Noogal, Somalia

The US military carried out an airstrike targeting alleged ISIS-Somalia terrorists in the Golis Mountains, according to a press release issued by US Africa Command. The strike killed two fighters from ISIS-Somalia it was asserted, with AFRICOM currently assessing that no civilians had been harmed. “This is the fifth precision airstrike against ISIS-Somalia since April

Summary

First published
May 22, 2019
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Declared strike
Strike type
Airstrike
Civilian harm reported
No
Civilians reported killed
0
Cause of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Known belligerent
US Forces
Known target
ISIS - Somalia
Belligerents reported killed
2
View Incident

Incident date

May 9, 2019

Incident Code

USSOM222

LOCATION

Golis Mountains, Noogal, Somalia

The US military carried out a “precision airstrike” targeting an ISIS-Somalia encampment in the Golis Mountains, according to a press release issued the following day by US Africa Command. AFRICOM said it had assessed that the strke killed four members of ISIS-Somalia and that no civilians were harmed. “At this time, it is assessed the

Summary

First published
May 9, 2019
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Declared strike
Strike type
Airstrike
Civilian harm reported
No
Civilians reported killed
0
Cause of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Known belligerent
US Forces
Known target
ISIS - Somalia
Belligerents reported killed
4
View Incident

Incident date

May 8, 2019

Incident Code

USSOM219

LOCATION

Ameyra, 150 km south of Bosasso, Bari, Somalia

The US military carried out an airstrike targeting an ISIS-Somalia encampment in the Golis Mountains, according to a press release from AFRICOM. The strike killed 13 fighters from ISIS-Somalia, in what was the third recent declared strike against ISIS. AFRICOM said it currently assessed that no civilians were harmed. The statement further noted: “We are supporting

Summary

First published
May 8, 2019
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Declared strike
Strike type
Airstrike
Civilian harm reported
No
Civilians reported killed
0
Cause of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Known belligerent
US Forces
Known target
ISIS - Somalia
Belligerents reported killed
13
View Incident

Incident date

April 26, 2019

Incident Code

USSOM216

LOCATION

Timirshe, Bari, Somalia

The US military carried out an airstrike targeting ISIS-Somalia and possibly also al Shabaab in the vicinity  of Timirshe, in the Golis Mountains. According to a press release from US Africa Command issued the following day, three fighters from the terrorist group were killed, with AFRICOM currently assessing that no civilians had been harmed in

Summary

First published
April 26, 2019
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Declared strike
Strike type
Airstrike
Civilian harm reported
No
Civilians reported killed
0
Causes of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Unknown
Known belligerent
US Forces
Known targets
Al-Shabaab, ISIS - Somalia
Belligerents reported killed
2–3
View Incident

Incident date

April 14, 2019

Incident Code

USSOM214

LOCATION

3 km away from Xiriiro, on the way to Hol Anod, Bari, Somalia

The US military carried out an airstrike against ISIS-Somalia in the vicinity of Xiriiro, Bari Region, killing one high value militant and at least one other alleged fighter. According to AFRICOM – which took the unusual step of publicly naming the target within 24 hours of the operation – the strike killed Abdulhakim Dhuqub, second

Summary

First published
April 14, 2019
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Declared strike
Strike type
Airstrike
Civilian harm reported
No
Civilians reported killed
0
Causes of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Unknown
Known belligerent
US Forces
Known target
ISIS - Somalia
Belligerents reported killed
1
View Incident

Incident date

November 27, 2017

Incident Code

USSOM106

LOCATION

Hills around Dasaan, Bari, Somalia

On the same day, AFRICOM reported that it had “conducted an airstrike against ISIS, in northeastern Somalia on Nov. 27”. It added that “the strike occurred at approximately 3 p.m. local Somalia time” and made no mention of civilian harm. However, it did claim that the strike had “killed one terrorist”. Reuters placed the attack near Qandala:

Summary

First published
November 27, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Declared strike
Strike type
Airstrike
Civilian harm reported
No
Civilians reported killed
Unknown
Cause of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Known belligerent
US Forces
Known target
ISIS - Somalia
Belligerents reported killed
1
View Incident

Incident date

November 12, 2017

Incident Code

USSOM102

LOCATION

Golis Mountains, Noogal, Somalia

Two US strikes took place in Somalia on November 12th, with one targeting al Shabaab and the other hitting Islamic State, according to US Africa Command. The strikes killed “several” fighters, it said. The first strike against al Shabaab is recorded in a separate event. The second attack was carried out at approximately 0900 local

Summary

First published
November 12, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Declared strike
Strike type
Airstrike, Drone Strike
Civilian harm reported
No
Civilians reported killed
Unknown
Cause of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Known belligerent
US Forces
Known target
ISIS - Somalia
Belligerents reported killed
23
View Incident

Incident date

November 3, 2017

Incident Code

USSOM097

LOCATION

Buqa, Bari, Somalia

On November 3rd 2017, AFRICOM reported that it had “conducted two separate airstrikes against ISIS, in northeastern Somalia on Nov. 3”. It made no mention of civilian harm. However, AFRICOM stated that the strikes had killed “several terrorists”, though it was “currently assessing the results of the strikes”. The command added: “The first strike occurred at approximately

Summary

First published
November 3, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Declared strike
Strike type
Airstrike, Drone Strike
Civilian harm reported
No
Civilians reported killed
Unknown
Cause of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Known belligerent
US Forces
Known target
ISIS - Somalia
Belligerents reported killed
2–20
View Incident

Incident date

November 2, 2017

Incident Code

USSOM096

LOCATION

Buqa, Bari, Somalia

The US conducted its first known strike against so-called Islamic State in Somalia. CNN reported that both strikes were carried out by armed drone. According to Associated Press, “A US official said the strikes were carried out in northeastern Somalia, with the first around midnight local time and the second later in the morning. The

Summary

First published
November 2, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Declared strike
Strike type
Airstrike, Drone Strike
Civilian harm reported
No
Civilians reported killed
Unknown
Cause of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Known belligerent
US Forces
Known target
ISIS - Somalia
Belligerents reported killed
6
View Incident