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

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

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

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

March 7, 2024

Incident Code

USSOM424

LOCATION

on the border between Lower Shabelle and Middle Jubba regions in southern Somalia, Somalia

Halbeeg News reported that at least six al-Shabaab fighters were killed in a suspected US airstrike which destroyed technical vehicles as well as an arsenal on the border between Lower Shabelle and Middle Jubba regions in southern Somalia on March 7, 2024. According to Halqabsi News, six al-Shabaab bases were struck and killed several high-ranking

Summary

First published
December 27, 2024
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 belligerent
US Forces
Suspected target
Al-Shabaab
Belligerents reported killed
6
View Incident

Incident date

August 11, 2018

Incident Code

USSOM139-C

LOCATION

Leego, Lower Shabelle, Somalia

Local reporters alleged that US and Somali forces had killed four civilians including a mother and child, during an operation in Leego. Caasimada alleged that the civilians were killed around midnight, by Somali troops accompanied by ‘white US officers’, and claimed that the attacking forces had flown there from a military base to the north.

Summary

First published
August 11, 2018
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Strike status
Declared strike
Strike type
Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
4
(1 child1 woman)
Cause of injury / death
Small arms and light weapons
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
Somali Military Forces
Known target
Al-Shabaab
Belligerents reported killed
3–4
View Incident

Incident date

January 1, 2021

Incident Code

USSOM326-C

LOCATION

حرمك, Kunya Barrow, Middle Juba, Somalia

Two civilians were initially reported wounded in two US airstrikes on Kunya Barrow, local reports claimed. AFRICOM later confirmed that three civilians were in fact injured in the attack. Radio Al Furqaan, the Al Shabaab-affiliated radio station bombed in the incident, said at the time: “On Friday afternoon, January 1, 2021, US warplanes bombed the

Summary

First published
January 1, 2021
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Strike status
Declared strike
Strike type
Airstrike, Drone Strike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
Unknown
Civilians reported injured
3
Cause of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Airwars civilian harm grading
Confirmed
A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
Known belligerent
US Forces
Known target
Al-Shabaab
Belligerents reported injured
1
View Incident

Incident date

February 15, 2023

Incident Code

USSOM373

LOCATION

Bacadweyne, Mudug, Somalia

Between five and 70 alleged al-Shabaab militants were killed by declared US airstrikes and/or Somali government ground actions near Bacadweyne in the Mudug of central Galmudug state on February 15, 2023. AFRICOM released a statement on February 16th that “At the request of the Federal Government of Somalia and in support of Somali National Army

Summary

First published
February 15, 2023
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Strike status
Declared strike
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
Known belligerent
US Forces
Geolocation
Town
Belligerents reported killed
5–70
View Incident

Incident date

February 16, 2025

Incident Code

USSOM457

LOCATION

Northeast Somalia, Calmiskaad (Al-miskat) Mountains, Puntland, Somalia

code: USSOM457
incident_date: 2025-02-16
status: publish
civilian_harm_status:

Summary

First published
June 6, 2025
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
2–16
View Incident

Incident date

April 11, 2016

Incident Code

USSOM051-C

LOCATION

1.2 km east of Yontoy, Lower Juba, Somalia

Three civilians were reportedly killed in a US drone strike in Lower Juba. The attack began late on April 11 and continued into the small hour of April 12, Lt Col Michelle Baldanza of AFRICOM later said in a statement. The camp “posed an imminent threat to US personnel,” she said. Somali officials allege the

Summary

First published
April 11, 2016
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Strike status
Declared strike
Strike type
Airstrike, Drone Strike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
3
(1 woman)
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-Shabaab
Belligerents reported killed
5–15
View Incident

Incident date

January 27, 2020

Incident Code

USSOM272-C

LOCATION

Homboy, Middle Juba, Somalia

US Africa Command declared on the same day that it had conducted an airstrike on al Shabaab in the vicinity of Jilib, which it said had killed one militant. It was later claimed that a 20-year old farmer named Mohamed Moalim was killed in the strike, with the location given as Hoombooy – although in

Summary

First published
January 27, 2020
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

March 13, 2022

Incident Code

USSOM346

LOCATION

Hareri Gubadle, Galguduud, Somalia

At least 200 Al Shabab militants were killed by an alleged joint operation between US drone strikes and Somali forces carried out in Hareri Gubadle, near Wabho Township in Galgaduud region. The date of the operation is unknown but was reported on March 13, 2022. The East African reported that the Somali government announced that

Summary

First published
March 13, 2022
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Strike status
Likely strike
Strike type
Airstrike, Drone Strike
Civilian harm reported
No
Civilians reported killed
Unknown
Cause of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Suspected belligerent
US Forces
Suspected target
Al-Shabaab
Belligerents reported killed
200
View Incident

Incident date

July 19, 2023

Incident Code

USSOM394

LOCATION

near Hareeri Kalle, Galguduud, Somalia

Between five and 100 militants were killed and several others were injured by declared US airstrikes and Somali ground operations near Hareeri Kalle in July 19, 2023. AFRICOM released a statement that “At the request of the Federal Government of Somalia, U.S. Africa Command conducted a collective self-defense airstrike in a remote area near Hareeri

Summary

First published
July 19, 2023
Last updated
December 15, 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
5–100
Belligerents reported injured
2
View Incident