US Forces in Somalia

Library image of an armed Reaper drone, December 2019 (US Air Force/ Senior Sergeant Haley Stevens)

Belligerent
US Forces
Country
Somalia
start date
end date
Civilian Harm Status
Belligerent Assessment
Declassified Documents
Strike Status
Strike Type
Infrastructure

Incident date

January 18, 2018

Incident Code

USSOM115-C

LOCATION

Jameeco Jilyaale near Beled ul Amin, Lower Shabelle, Somalia

The 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

First published
January 18, 2018
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Strike status
Contested strike
Strike type
Airstrike
Infrastructure
Education
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
4 – 6
(4–5 children1 man)
Cause of injury / death
Small arms and light weapons
Airwars civilian harm grading
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Known belligerents
US Forces, Somali Military Forces
Suspected target
Al-Shabaab
Belligerents reported killed
4–5
Belligerents reported injured
6
View Incident

Incident date

April 6, 2020

Incident Code

USSOM305-C

LOCATION

جيليب, Jilib, Middle Juba, Somalia

Three civilians were killed and one child injured by a US airstrike near Jilib, according to a number of local sources. Mareeg said that at least two civilians had been killed. Halgan Media claimed the following: “Suspected US drones launched a series of strikes overnight bombing the Al Shabaab controlled town of Jilib in the

Summary

First published
April 6, 2020
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Strike status
Declared strike
Strike type
Airstrike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
2 – 3
(1 woman2 men)
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.
Suspected belligerent
US Forces
Known target
Al-Shabaab
Named victims
4 named
Belligerents reported killed
5
View Incident

Incident date

November 9, 2022

Incident Code

USSOM356

LOCATION

285 kilometers northeast of Mogadishu, Galguduud, Somalia

At least 17 militants were killed by US AFRICOM declared airstrikes approximately 285 kilometers northeast, possibly in Basra, Balad district and/or in Ceel Gorof (Galmudug) on November 9, 2022. AFRICOM released a statement two days after the incident, November 11th, that “Somali National Army forces were engaged with al Shabaab fighters in a remote area

Summary

First published
November 9, 2022
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Strike status
Declared strike
Strike type
Airstrike, Ground operation
Civilian harm reported
No
Civilians reported killed
Unknown
Cause of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Known belligerent
US Forces
Known target
Al-Shabaab
Geolocation
Nearby landmark
Belligerents reported killed
17–97
View Incident

Incident date

September 22, 2023

Incident Code

USSOM405

LOCATION

Wajid District, Bakool, Somalia

The militant organization Al-Shabaab claimed that U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) had conducted an airstrike against the terrorist network on 22nd of September, 2023. The group alleged that the airstrike, carried out in the Wajid district of Bakool in southwestern Somalia, had reportedly killed eight civilians, including six children. However, the Somalia government declared their responsibility

Summary

First published
September 22, 2023
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Strike status
Contested strike
Strike type
Airstrike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
8
(6 children2 women)
Cause of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected belligerents
Somali Military Forces, US Forces
Suspected target
Al-Shabaab
Named victims
8 named, 1 familiy identified
Belligerents reported killed
1–8
View Incident

Incident date

June 25, 2019

Incident Code

USSOM236-C

LOCATION

حرمك, Kunya Barrow, Middle Juba, Somalia

A named man, Abow Ali Wardi (or Wardiyow), was widely reported killed in a US targeted strike near Kunyo Barrow. While there were some local claims that the victim was a non combatant, AFRICOM later insisted the target was “an al-Shabaab facilitator” and that “It is assessed with a high degree of confidence that civilian

Summary

First published
June 25, 2019
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Strike status
Declared strike
Strike type
Airstrike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
0 – 1
(1 man)
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-Shabaab
Named victims
1 named
Belligerents reported killed
1
View Incident

Incident date

November 6, 2020

Incident Code

USSOM322

LOCATION

غندرشي, Gandarshe, Lower Shabelle, Somalia

A CIA paramilitary officer was killed in Somalia as a result of a joint ground raid with Somali special forces, it was later reported. Four elite Somali Danab troops also died during the event. Sources close to Al Shabaab first reported on the incident. Somali Memo said: “Reports from Gandarshe area say that a suicide

Summary

First published
November 6, 2020
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Strike status
Likely strike
Strike type
Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
Civilian harm reported
No
Civilians reported killed
0
Causes of injury / death
Planted explosives and unexploded ordnance (UXO), Small arms and light weapons
Known belligerent
US Forces
Suspected target
Al-Shabaab
Belligerents reported killed
5
View Incident

Incident date

February 10, 2023

Incident Code

USSOM372

LOCATION

Donlaye, Mudug, Somalia

Between 12 and 117 alleged al-Shabaab militants were killed by declared AFRICOM airstrikes and/or Somali National Army operations in Donlaye, near Amara town, on February 10, 2023. AFRICOM released a statement on February 12th that “At the request of the Federal Government of Somalia and in support of Somali National Army engagements against al-Shabaab, U.S. Africa

Summary

First published
February 10, 2023
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Strike status
Declared strike
Strike type
Airstrike, Ground operation
Civilian harm reported
No
Civilians reported killed
Unknown
Cause of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Known belligerent
US Forces
Known target
Al-Shabaab
Geolocation
Village
Belligerents reported killed
12–117
View Incident

Incident date

March 2, 2024

Incident Code

USSOM423

LOCATION

in a remote area in the vicinity approximately 45 km northeast of Kismayo, Somalia

Two al-Shabaab militants were reportedly killed by declared US airstrikes approximately 45 km northeast of Kismayo in Somalia on March 2, 2024. US Africa Command (USAFRICOM) released a statement on March 4th declaring their involvement: “At the request of the Federal Government of Somalia, U.S. Africa Command conducted a collective self-defense against the al Shabaab

Summary

First published
December 27, 2024
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
Al-Shabaab
Belligerents reported killed
2
View Incident

Incident date

February 23, 2019

Incident Code

USSOM198-C

LOCATION

Qoryoley near Janaale, Lower Shabelle, Somalia

An adult woman was reported killed by an alleged US attack on Qoryole, according to the Turkish news organisation TRT – an event it dated to before midnight on February 23rd 2019. Despite conducting four strikes in the near region that day. AFRICOM later insisted that “no U.S. military strike took place at the alleged

Summary

First published
February 23, 2019
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Strike status
Contested strike
Strike type
Airstrike, Drone Strike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
(1 woman)
Cause of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Airwars civilian harm grading
Discounted
Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
Suspected belligerent
US Forces
Suspected target
Al-Shabaab
Named victims
1 named
View Incident

Incident date

June 3, 2022

Incident Code

USSOM347

LOCATION

Yaaq-Zaluul, Lower Juba, Somalia

The US Africa Command (AFRICOM) declared an airstrike in a remote location near Beer Xaani, in the vicinity of Yaaq-Zaluul, in Somalia on June 3rd 2022.  They declared that five Al-Shabaab militants were killed in this attack but that no civilians were injured or killed. In local reports, this was repeated and there were no

Summary

First published
June 3, 2022
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Strike status
Declared strike
Strike type
Airstrike
Civilian harm reported
No
Civilians reported killed
Unknown
Known belligerent
US Forces
Known target
Al-Shabaab
Geolocation
Subdistrict
Belligerents reported killed
5
View Incident

Incident date

July 12, 2023

Incident Code

USSOM393

LOCATION

Weelmarow Village, Lower Juba, Somalia

Kenyans.co.ke reported that a joint operation by US Commandos, Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) and the Security Forces in Jubaland resulted in the death of 17 al-Shabaab militants in Weelmarow Village in Lower Juba. The source added that the majority of the al-Shabaab militants were Kenyan and Ethiopian natives. No other sources reported on the incident.

Summary

First published
July 12, 2023
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Strike status
Single source claim
Strike type
Airstrike, Ground operation
Civilian harm reported
No
Civilians reported killed
Unknown
Causes of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons
Suspected belligerent
US Forces
Suspected target
Al-Shabaab
Belligerents reported killed
17
View Incident

Incident date

February 12, 2025

Incident Code

USSOM456

LOCATION

Sheebaab area of the Calmiskaad mountains, Puntland, Somalia

code: USSOM456
incident_date: 2025-02-12
status: publish
civilian_harm_status:

Summary

First published
June 6, 2025
Strike status
Single source claim
Strike type
Airstrike
Civilian harm reported
No
Civilians reported killed
Unknown
Cause of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Suspected belligerents
US Forces, United Arab Emirates Military
Suspected target
ISIS - Somalia
Belligerents reported killed
31
View Incident

Incident date

February 21, 2018

Incident Code

USSOM118-C

LOCATION

Bangeeni, Lower Juba, Somalia

Up 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

First published
February 21, 2018
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Strike status
Declared strike
Strike type
Airstrike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
2
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
Al-Shabaab
Belligerents reported killed
3–5
View Incident

Incident date

April 10, 2020

Incident Code

USSOM307-C

LOCATION

Kamsuuma, Lower Juba, Somalia

One elderly civilian, claimed by al Shabaab to be a tribal elder, was allegedly killed by a US airstrike in Kamsuuma. The US later pushed back heavily against the claim, insisting the victim was a terrorist. AFRICOM initially described the action – which it said killed one al Shabaab fighter – as a response to

Summary

First published
April 10, 2020
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Strike status
Declared strike
Strike type
Airstrike, Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground), Drone Strike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
0 – 1
(1 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.
Known belligerent
US Forces
Known target
Al-Shabaab
Named victims
1 named
Belligerents reported killed
1
View Incident

Incident date

November 23, 2022

Incident Code

USSOM357

LOCATION

Bulo Madina, Lower Shabelle, Somalia

Over 49 al-Shabaab militants were reportedly killed and others were wounded by Somali forces and “international partner” airstrikes/ground operations in the Bulo Madina area of Lower Shabelle on November 22, 2022. Garrote Online reported that according to the Ministry of Information, over 49 militants were killed by an airstrike following an operation by the Somali

Summary

First published
November 22, 2022
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Strike status
Contested strike
Strike type
Airstrike, Ground operation
Civilian harm reported
No
Civilians reported killed
Unknown
Cause of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Suspected belligerents
US Forces, Somali Military Forces, International Forces (Unknown)
Suspected target
Al-Shabaab
Geolocation
Village
Belligerents reported killed
49
Belligerents reported injured
2
View Incident

Incident date

September 23, 2023

Incident Code

USSOM406

LOCATION

Villages of Balal-Dheer, El-Gambar, and Mililiqo, Galguduud, Somalia

Local and official sources alleged that 27 al-Shabaab militants were killed by operations and airstrikes declared by the Somali military in the villages of Balal-Dheer, El-Gambar, and Mililiqo on September 22, 2023. On Friday the 22nd of September, 2023, the Somali Ministry of Defense posted a statement on X / Twitter that “over 27 Khawarij

Summary

First published
September 23, 2023
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Strike status
Contested strike
Strike type
Airstrike
Civilian harm reported
No
Civilians reported killed
Unknown
Cause of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Suspected belligerents
Somali Military Forces, US Forces
Suspected target
Al-Shabaab
Belligerents reported killed
27
View Incident