US forces conducted two airstrikes targeting al Shabaab militants in the vicinity of Beled Amin South on December 19, a US Africa Command press release stated.

The first strike killed eight militants and the second strike killed three militants, the US currently assesses.

The strikes were carried out in self defence after AMISOM troops being advised by US personnel were attacked.

The press release states"

Somali and African Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM) forces were conducting an operation in the region to clear known al-Shabaab facilities. U.S. personnel were present during the mission in an advisory capacity. The airstrikes were conducted in self-defense after al-Shabaab militants maneuvered on and engaged the combined force.

This Somali-led mission was designed to increase security around Mogadishu. Al-Shabaab uses the area around Beled Amin South, which is approximately 40 kilometers northwest of Mogadishu, to plan and execute attacks against the capital. Our Somali and AMISOM partners have made significant strides recently in disrupting terrorist facilitation routes in Mogadishu, and operations like this are vital to maintaining pressure on militant networks.

• Type of strike: US air or drone strikes
• Location: Vicinity of Beled Amin South
• References: US Africa Command press release via email

The US military announced six strikes in just a couple of days in Somalia. All hit in the vicinity of Gandarshe.

"All six airstrikes were conducted in close coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia and targeted a known al Shabaab encampment. U.S. Africa Command and our Somali partners conducted these airstrikes to prevent terrorists from using remote areas as a safe haven to plot, direct, inspire, and recruit for future attacks," a press release on the strikes stated.

Two of these strikes took place on December 16 and killed 28 al Shabaab fighters, it said.

This entry records these two strikes. The remaining four will be in the entry below.

• Type of strike: US air or drone strikes
• Location: Vicinity of Gandarshe
• References: US Africa Command press release via email

The US military announced six strikes in just a couple of days in Somalia. All hit in the vicinity of Gandarshe.

"All six airstrikes were conducted in close coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia and targeted a known al Shabaab encampment. U.S. Africa Command and our Somali partners conducted these airstrikes to prevent terrorists from using remote areas as a safe haven to plot, direct, inspire, and recruit for future attacks," a press release on the strikes stated.

Four of these strikes took place on December 15 and killed 34 al Shabaab fighters, it said.

This entry records these four strikes. The remaining two will be in the entry above.

• Type of strike: US air or drone strike
• Location: Vicinity of Gandarshe
• References: US Africa Command press release via email

One civilian was reportedly killed and another injured in a US airstrike in Basra, Amnesty International reported - though US Africa Command deny that any civilians were harmed.

In a press release from US Africa Command they said that they carried out a collective self-defence strike targeting al Shabaab.

"The US airstrike was conducted against militants after partner forces came under attack. We currently assess this airstrike killed four (4) militants with no civilians involved," the statement read.

In March 2019 Amnesty International released a report on civilian harm in Somalia that detailed this strike. Following an on-the-ground investigation, Amnesty reported that the strikes took place in the early hours of December 9. Dahir Abdi Qoriyow, a 47 year old farmer had beed irrigating his fields throughout the night when the strike hit his farm. Omar Abdi Sheikh, who had brought food for Dahir, was also injured in the strike.

Amnesty spoke to both men's families who claimed that the men were not members of al Shabaab.

In response to Amnesty International’s allegations, AFRICOM stated: “AFRICOM conducted a precisionguided strike that corresponds to the time and location alleged, targeting individuals attacking partner forces.”

AFRICOM did not confirm whether anyone was killed or injured in the air strike, and if so, whether it assessed that any were civilians.

• Type of strike: US air or drone strike
• Location: Vicinity of Basra
• References: US Africa Command press release via email, Amnesty International

The US carried out a self-defence strike after US and partner forces came under attack, US Africa Command said in a statement. Four al Shabaab fighters were killed.

"Alongside our Somali and international partners, we are committed to preventing al Shabaab from taking advantage of safe havens from which they can build capacity and attack the people of Somalia. In particular, the group uses portions of southern and central Somalia to plot and direct terror attacks, steal humanitarian aid, extort the local populace to fund its operations, and shelter radical terrorists," the statement read.

• Type of strike: US air or drone strike
• Location: Vicinity of Awdheegle, Lower Shabelle
• References: US Africa Command press release via email

Nine al Shabaab fighters were killed a US strike on this day, according to Africa Command.

"US forces will use all effective and appropriate methods to protect the Somali people, including partnered military counter-terror operations with the Federal Government of Somalia, Africa Union Mission in Somalia and Somali National Army forces," a statement from the command said.

The strike hit near Lebede, Somalia.

• Type of strike: US air or drone strike
• Location: Near Lebede
• References: US Africa Command press release via email

US forces carried out a fourth strike in the area of Quy Cad near Debatscile in just over a week. This strike hit on November 27, with Africa Command assessing that three al Shabaab fighters were killed.

• Type of strike: US air or drone strike
• Location: Vicinity of Quy Cad, Near Debatscile, Mudug region
• References: US Africa Command press release via email

A strike killed 15 members of al Shabaab and injured another 30, according to the Somali National News Agency (SONNA) as reported by All Africa.

It was not clear whether US forces carried out the strike from the reporting, but US Africa Command said US forces had not carried out a strike on that day.

According to the news site, the strike targeted a meeting of al Shabaab at 11pm local time. High-level members were reportedly killed, with SONNA naming Daahir Gacmay, Abdirahman Takar, Sayid Dheere and Abdullahi Rabbi as al Shabaab officials that were among the dead.

• Type of strike: Possible US strike
• Location: Hargeysa Yarey, Middle Juba region
• References: All Africa

US forces carried out two strikes in Somalia on this day, according to a US Africa Command press release.

This entry details the second, which the press release said destroyed a weapons cache in the vicinity of Haradere in Somalia's Galmudug state.

The command said it currently assessed that the strike did not cause any civilian harm.

• Type of strike: US air or drone strike
• Location: Vicinity of Haradere, Galmudug
• References: US Africa Command press release via email

US forces carried out two strikes in Somalia on this day, according to a US Africa Command press release.

This entry details the first, which the press release said killed six al Shabaab fighters in the vicinity of Haradere in Somalia's Galmudug state.

The command said it currently assessed that the strike did not cause any civilian harm.

• Type of strike: US air or drone strike
• Location: Vicinity of Haradere
• References: US Africa Command press release via email

US forces carried out a strike killing seven al Shabaab fighters, according to a US Africa Command press release.

The strike, which they said was carried out to support Somalia's efforts to degrade al Shabaab, hit in the vicinty of Quy Cad, which the Associated Press located in the Mudug region.

The press release stated that the command currently assessed that the strike did not cause any civilian harm.

• Type of strike: US air or drone strike
• Location: Vicinity of Quy Cad, Mudug region
• References: US Africa Command press release, Associated Press

US Forces carried out two strikes on November 19, according to a statement from US Africa Command.

This entry records one of these. This strike killed 10 al Shabaab fighters, according to Africom.

The US military currently assesses that the airstrikes did not injure or kill any civilians.

Both strikes hit in the vicinity of Dabatscile. A US defense official told CNN that they were carried out by a drone.

• Type of strike: US air or drone strike
• Location: Vicinity of Debatscile
• References: US Africa Command via email, CNN

US Forces carried out two strikes on November 19, according to a statement from US Africa Command.

This entry records one of these. This strike was a "planned and deliberate action" and killed 27 al Shabaab fighters, according to Africom.

A US defense official told CNN that the strikes were carried out by a drone and that the target of this one was an al Shabaab camp.

The US military currently assesses that the airstrikes did not injure or kill any civilians.

Both strikes hit in the vicinity of Dabatscile.

• Type of strike: US air or drone strike
• Location: Vicinity of Debatscile
• References: US Africa Command via email, CNN

A US strike on October 25 killed two militants and destroyed a vehicle, US Africa Command said in a press release.

The command stated that it currently assessed no civilians were harmed in the strike.

"This precision airstrike was conducted in support of the Federal Government of Somalia as it continues to degrade al Shabaab. Airstrikes reduce al Shabaab’s ability to plot future attacks, disrupt its leadership networks, and degrade its freedom of maneuver within the region," the press release said.

• Type of strike: US air or drone strike
• Location: Vicinity of Kunyo Barrow
• References: US Africa Command press release via email

The US carried out a strike in Somalia on October 14 after partner forces came under attack from small arms fire, a US Africa Command press release stated.

The press release called it a "collective self-defense airstrike". No US service members were present on the ground during what it said was a Somali-led operation.

The strike killed four al Shabaab fighters, the press release said.

• Type of strike: US air or drone strike
• Location: Vicinity of Araara, Lower Juba region
• References: US Africa Command press release

Around 60 al Shabaab fighters were killed in a US strike on October 12, US Africa Command has announced.

In a press release, the command said the strike was the largest against al Shabaab since November last year, when US forces carried out a strike it said hit al Shabaab camp killing approximately 100 militants.

In an earlier press release, the command said that they were "currently assessing the results of this airstrike, which targeted only al Shabaab militants." This marked a change from the usual line included in Africom press releases, which tends to state that the command has assessed that no civilians were injured or killed in the strike.

We took this to Africom, who said that, at this time, they had assessed no civilians were injured or killed in the strike and stated they had not been investigating any allegations of civilian casualties. This was reiterated in the second press release.

"This precision airstrike was conducted in support of the Federal Government of Somalia as it continues to degrade al-Shabaab. Airstrikes reduce al-Shabaab’s ability to plot future attacks, disrupt its leadership networks, and degrade its freedom of maneuver within the region," the second press release stated.

Two US defense officials told CNN the strike was carried out by a drone.

• Type of strike: US air or drone strike
• Location: Haradere, Galmudug region
• References: US Africa Command press release, US Africa Command press release, CNN

US forces carried out an airstrike targeting an al Shabaab militant on October 6, a US press release said.

The release said one member of the group had been killed, adding that the command currently assessed that no civilians had been killed on injured in the strike.

• Type of strike: US air or drone strike
• Location: Vicinity of Kunyo Barrow, Lower Shabelle
• References: US Africa Command press release

Somali media site Mareeg reported a US drone strike may have injured women and children. An anonymous sources told them the victims has been taken to hospital for medical treatment.

The strike was reported to have hit small residential areas near El Adde town in Somalia’s Gedo region, with Mareeg saying it caused the destruction of houses and shops.

According to Mareeg, a Somali military aligned radio station said the strike killed ten al ShabaaB fighters including a senior al Shabaab commander.

Al Shabaab denied their fighters had been targeted, reportedly releasing photos they said showed the area hit in the strike.

The date of the strike was not clear but it was reported on October 4.

We reached out to US Africa Command, the US military body responsible for activities in Somalia. They said that the last strike they carried out was on October 1 and they assessed no civilians were injured or killed.

• Type of strike: Possible US strike
• Location: El Adde town, Gedo region
• References: Mareeg, US Africa Command via email

US forces carried out a strike on October 1 after al Shabaab fighters attacked Somali forces, according to a US Africa Command press release.

Nine al Shabaab fighters were allegedly killed and another injured. The press release said the command had assessed that no civilians were killed or injured.

• Type of strike: US air or drone strike
• Location: 40 kilometres northeast of Kismayo
• References: US Africa Command press release

US forces carried out a self-defence strike against al Shabaab on September 21, according to a press release from US Africa Command.

"The US airstrike was conducted against militants after US and partner forces came under attack. We currently assess eighteen terrorists were killed in the strike. Two other terrorists were killed by Somali forces with small arms fire during the engagement," the press release read.

• Type of strike: US air or drone strike
• Location: 50 kilometres northwest of Kismayo, Lower Juba region
• References: US Africa Command via press release

Several senior al Shabaab officials have been killed or wounded in an airstrike, Somalia intelligence officials reportedly said, but the group and a resident said children were among the dead.

It was not clear who carried out the strike, AP reported. US Africa Command said it had not carried out a strike since September 11. Kenya also carries out strikes, as does Ethiopia. A local news site reported it as a Kenya strike. A statement from the Somali deputy information minister said it was "international partners".

The intelligence officials said the strike hit a training school and nearby hospital in Sakow, in the Middle Jubba region. Al Shabab said three children were killed, and an local elder told AP that several young recruits were killed. Mareeg said at least three children died in the strike, confirmed, it said, by witnesses who contacted local radio stations.

Hassan Yaqub, a longtime commander, was reportedly targeted in the strike. The Somali Deputy Information Minister Adam Isak Ali said Yaqub had been injured. Twelve members of the group were also killed, he said.

• Type of strike: Possible US strike
• Location: Sakow, Middle Jubba region
• References: AP, Mareeg, Prensa Latina

US forces carried out a strike during a Somali partner forces-led operation against al­ Shabaab in the central Somali village of Mubaraak, west of the capital Mogadishu, Africa Command said in a press release.

"The US air strike was conducted against an enemy fighting position in self-defense after US and partner forces came under attack," the press release stated. "We currently assess two terrorists were killed and one terrorist was wounded in the strike." Africom said that it found no civilian casualties.

During the operation, one member of a partner force was killed and two others injured.

• Type of strike: US air or drone strike
• Location: Mubaraak, 37 miles west of Mogadishu
• References: US Africa Command via email

US forces carried out a strike on August 27, according to US Africa Command, killing three members of al Shabaab.

The strike hit approximately 40 kilometers southwest of Mogadishu, a statement from the command said.

The statement read:

"US forces will continue to use all authorized and appropriate measures to protect U.S. citizens and to disable terrorist threats. This includes partnering with AMISOM and Somali National Security Forces (SNSF) in combined counterterrorism operations and targeting terrorists, their training camps, and their safe havens throughout Somalia and the region."

It added that the Command has assessed that no civilians had been killed or injured in this strike.

• Type of strike: US air and drone strike
• Location: 40 kilometers southwest of Mogadishu
• References: US Africa Command press release via email

US forces carried out a strike on August 21 killing two al Shabaab fighters, according to a press release from US Africa Command.

The strike hit approximately 46 kilometers northeast of Kismayo, a port city in southern Somalia.

The Command said it currently assesses no civilians were killed or injured in this strike.

• Type of strike: US air and drone strike
• Location: 46 kilometers northeast of Kismayo
• References: US Africa Command press release via email

Three civilians were reportedly killed in a US strike in Gonable village, according to Amnesty International - though US Africa Command have stated that only four "terrorists" were killed.

In March 2019 Amnesty International released a report on civilian harm in Somalia that detailed this strike.

The three civilians were driving in a rural area 1km outside of Gonable village when the strike hit their vehicle. Some of the eye witnesses that Amnesty spoke to said that there was one al Shabaab member in the vehicle that may have been the target of the strike. Amnesty named those killed as:

• Abdisamad Sheikh Issack Mohamed - 35 years old, worked for Hormuud Telecommunications Company
• Adan Hassan Yarow (aka “Adan Dubbe”) - 58 years old, married, father of nine
• Abdi Nurow Adan - 58 years old, married, father of nine

A senior Lower Shabelle official also confirmed to Amnesty that three civilians were killed in an air strike near Gobanle. “I don’t know why they were hit, but maybe it was a mistake. The US are making a lot of mistakes in this region,” he said.

One witness eyewitness, Ibrahim, described the strike to Amnesty:

“When they were away from us we saw a plane circling over them and they went under a tree” Ibrahim, a witness said. The aircraft disappeared from sight but returned shortly afterwards. The vehicle was then hit by an air strike, destroying it completely. “When the plane left they drove away in the vehicle, but the plane came back and hit them when they were in the open. We went there and took them. The four of them died there,”

In a statement, US Africa Command said that they conducted a strike on this day 74 miles northwest of Mogadishu, that killed four "terrorists". They assessed that no civilian casualties had resulted from the strike.

Witnesses to the attack told Amnesty International that the three men were not armed and were not members of Al-Shabaab. “They had a shovel and a hammer but no weapons,” one witness said.

In response to Amnesty's allegations of civilian harm, US Africa Command said:

AFRICOM conducted a precision-guided strike that corresponds to the time and location alleged, targeting individuals who were members of al-Shabaab. The pro-al-Shabaab media outlet, Somaliamemo.net alleged CIVCAS shortly after the event. AFRICOM conducted a CIVCAS allegation assessment and determined that the allegation was not credible based on the unreliability of the source and the fact that the individuals targeted were members of al-Shabaab

• Type of strike: US air and drone strike
• Location: Ganable village, 74 miles northwest of Mogadishu
• References: US Africa Command press release via email, Amnesty International

A strike reportedly hit a village outside Marka, a city around 60 miles south of Mogadishu, according to a field investigation by a reporter for The National.

Khadija Hassan Ali, a mother of three, spoke to the reporter, Amanda Sperber:

Ali said that her husband, Abdullahi Sheikh Hassan, died in late July from what she believes was a heart attack after night-time strikes hit her village amid fighting between Al Shabab and government-led militias. She is certain of the timing because, in Somali culture, a wife formally mourns for four months and 10 days after the death of her husband, so she had the dates in mind when I talked with her in late November.

The only strike that US Africa Command claim to have conducted in late July was around 50 kilometres north of Kismayo on July 23 - this is recorded below as SOM101. However, Kismayo is over 400km away from Marka.

According to the article, an international human rights organisation leaked a document to the reporter that indicated a strike occurred on July 25 in Qalimow, but this is about 95 miles away from Ali's home.

The US is the only country known to be conducting airstrikes in this region of Somalia. The journalist suggests that the strike may not match Africom's records because it could potentially be a CIA strike.

This entry has been recorded as the last day in July as "late July" is the only date range that we have.

• Type of strike: Possible US strike
• Location: Marka, 60 miles south of Mogadishu
• References: The National

US forces carried out a strike against al Shabaab in an area around 50 kilometres north of Kismayo.

Post-strike analysis has not revealed the number of militants killed, a US spokesperson told the Bureau.

This was the only strike carried out in July, as of July 30.

• Type of strike: US air or drone strike
• Location: 50 kilometres north of Kismayo
• References: US Africa Command spokesperson via email

Mareeg news, a Somali news outlet, has reported a possible strike killing eight members of al Shabaab. The group reportedly denied any members were killed.

The source of their information was a tweet from Harun Maruf, a journalist. While Mareeg said the jets were unidentified, Maruf said it was a suspected US strike. US Africa Command reportedly told Mareeg no strikes have been carried out in Somalia since early June.

Maruf said the strike hit near Jawaari village in Somalia's Middle Jubba region the night of July 10.

It is included here as a possible US strike.

• Type of strike: Possible US strike
• Location: Jawaari village, Middle Juba
• References: Mareeg News, Twitter

An American special forces soldier was killed and four others were wounded in an attack by al Shabaab fighters in Jubaland. A member of a partner force was also injured.

The US soldiers were among a large force of 800 Somali and Kenyan soldiers conducting a “multiday operation”, US Africa Command said. The mission's objective was to " clear al Shabaab from contested areas, liberate villages from al Shabaab control, and establish a permanent combat outpost," according to a press release from the command, with US forces providing "advice, assistance and aerial surveillance".

The group however came under attack from mortar and small-arms fire at around 2:45pm (local time). US Department of Defence officials said they were at a small outpost near the town of Jamaame when the incident occurred. The US team was backed up by armed surveillance aircraft overhead, but the location of the mortar fire could not be determined in what one official called “a very quick engagement” by the militants, according to the New York Times.

The statement from US Africa Command read:

A large force consisting of approximately 800 forces from the SNSF and KDF were conducting a multi-day operation approximately 350 kilometers southwest of Mogadishu when the attack occurred. The mission's objectives were to clear al-Shabaab from contested areas, liberate villages from al-Shabaab control, and establish a permanent combat outpost designed to increase the span of Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) security and governance. The U.S. provided advice, assistance and aerial surveillance during the mission.

The FGS is dedicated to restoring peace and stability to the Somali people, and the U.S. supports those efforts. This mission was specifically designed to increase the FGS’s ability to provide vital government services to innocent civilians living under al-Shabaab’s rule. The population in the region had historically supported the government, and the Somali forces had prepared for this mission by coordinating heavily with and securing the support of local authorities ahead of time.

• Type of strike: Ground operation
• Location: Jubaland
• References: US Africa Command press release via email, The New York Times, The Daily Beast, The Daily Beast

US Africa Command told the Bureau in July that they carried out two strikes in June. We had recorded only one of these, on June 2 (see entry below).

The second took place on June 3. It targeted members of al Shabaab approximately 24 miles southwest of Bosasso, according to Africom.

"We currently assess no terrorists and no civilians were killed in this airstrike," a spokesperson said.

• Type of strike: US air or drone strike
• Location: 24 miles southwest of Bosasso
• References: US Africa Command press release via email

The US announced a strike on June 2 killed a large number of al Shabaab fighters, with 27 members of the group allegedly killed.

The exact location of the strike was not specified, but a press release from US Africa Command said it hit approximately 26 miles southwest of Bosasso.

No civilians were assessed to have been killed, it added.

• Type of strike: US air or drone strike
• Location: 26 miles southwest of Bosasso
• References: US Africa Command press release via email

A 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 strike:

The blast broke both her hips, left shrapnel embedded in her thigh, and caused terrible burns that cost her both breasts. Before she lost consciousness, she told me, she saw three boys—ages 9, 10, and 16—die in the explosion, which occurred at night in a field outside Bariire, a village 30 miles west of the Somali capital of Mogadishu. She also said the strike came from the sky and that afterward she had to be hospitalized for three months.

Halimo doesn't follow the Western calendar, but she told the reporter that it was about two weeks before Eid al-Fitr, which began on June 14 last year.

US Africa Command stated in a press release that they conducted an airstrike 30 miles southwest of Mogadishu on May 31, that killed 12 terrorists- this is recorded below as SOM097. Due to the lack of clarity regarding the date of the strike, it is not clear whether these are referring to the same strikes.

US Africa Command has not released details of any other airstrikes that match the date range or location given by Halimo.

This has been recorded as May 31, however, could be any date between then and June 14.

The US is the only country known to be conducting airstrikes in this region of Somalia. The journalist suggests that the strike may not match Africom's records because it could potentially be a CIA strike.

• Type of strike: Possible US strike
• Location: Bariire, 30 miles west of Mogadishu
• References: The National

Twelve members of al Shabaab were killed in a US strike, according to a US Africa Command press release.

The strike hit 30 miles southwest of the capital.

The press release said no civilians were assessed to have been killed.

• Type of strike: US air or drone strike
• Location: 30 miles southwest of Mogadishu
• References: US Africa Command press release via email

US Africa Command confirmed a strike targeting al Shabaab militants on May 23. Ten members of the group were reportedly killed.

The US said it occurred 15 miles southwest of Mogadishu. Radio Shabelle News had said a strike hit al Shabaab bases on the outskirts of Arbiska village in the Lower Shabelle region, located near the capital.

Africom said it assessed no civilians were killed in the strike.

• Type of strike: Possible US strike
• Location: Arbiska village, Lower Shabelle region
• References: Radio Shabelle News, US Africa Command press release via email

Reports surfaced of five civilians being killed in a raid. The raid was reportedly carried out by Somalia commandos, with the US saying American troops supported the mission in an "advise and assist" capacity.

Soon after the incident, the Somali government denied the allegations of civilian casualties. US Africa Command said it would review information on the raid but announced in June that after a "thorough" review the allegations had been deemed "not credible".

The raid took place in a village in the Lower Shabelle region. While a Somali intelligence official said the site targeted was a "key hideout and coordination centre" of al Shabaab, relatives and locals say it was a banana farm.

The five killed were allegedly shot dead. Three others were said to have been captured. Ali Mohamed Moalin, an elder from the area, said "two military helicopters" were involved as well as "some foreign special forces". "There are five dead bodies of innocent farmers who have been killed by the special forces last night," said Moalin.

Daily Beast published a detailed account of the attack, highlighting the complexity surrounding US military activity in Somalia. "Five locals were injured by the Somali commandos and at some point during a firefight with people whose identities no one could agree upon, five local people were killed," journalist Christina Goldbaum wrote. To read the whole story, click here.

The US said the raid took place near Bulcida, which is reportedly on the outskirts of Afgoye. APF also placed it near Afgoye. The Daily Beast and Garowe Online report the raid occurred in Ma'alinka village near Bariire, which was the site of a deadly raid in August. Bariire is close to Afgoye.

• Type of strike: Ground operation - Somali-led operation
• Location: Lower Shabelle region
• References: AP, AFP, Garowe Garowe Online, US Africa Command via email, Daily Beast

US forces carried out a strike against al Shabaab militants on April 16 near Leego, an Africa Command spokesperson told the Bureau. 

"No terrorists were killed and no equipment was destroyed in this strike," the spokesperson said. 

Leego is described by VOA as a strategic town in the Lower Shabelle region, located 120 kilometers from Mogadishu. Al Shabaab fighters retook the town in August last year.

• Type of strike: US air or drone strikes
• Location: Leego
• References: US Africa Command press release via email, VOA

US forces carried out an air strike destroying an al-Shabaab vehicle-borne improvised explosive device on the afternoon of April 11, a US Africa Command press release stated. 

The strike hit near Jana Cabdalle, which local news places in Kismayo. It was not clear if any one was killed in the strike. 

The press release stated:

US forces will continue to use all authorized and appropriate measures to protect U.S. citizens and to disable terrorist threats. This includes partnering with AMISOM and Somali National Security Forces (SNSF) in combined counterterrorism operations and targeting terrorists, their training camps, and their safe havens throughout Somalia and the region.

• Type of strike: US air or drone strikes
• Location: Jana Cabdalle, Kismayo
• References: US Africa Command press release via email, Mareeg News 

US forces carried out a strike against al Shabaab near Jilib in the afternoon of April 5 killing three "terrorists" and destroying a vehicle with a mounted heavy machine gun, US Africa Command said in a press release.

They assessed no civilians were killed in this strike. 

"US forces will continue to use all authorized and appropriate measures to protect US citizens and to disable terrorist threats," the press release said.

• Type of strike: US air or drone strikes
• Location: Jilib, Middle Juba Region 
• References: US Africa Command press release via email

A US airstrike in the afternoon of April 1 killed two civilians and four al Shabaab fighters, US Africa Command confirmed in a statement in April 2019.

The statement read:

On March 30, 2019, the command was notified about the results of a post-strike internal assessment conducted in April 2018 that found credible evidence of the two civilian casualties. Unfortunately, the finding was not properly reported to U.S. Africa Command headquarters.

Because of the reporting error, U.S. Africa Command was not informed of the assessment's conclusion-and subsequently the information was not reported to external authorities, such as the host nation and Congress.

Consequently, on April 2, 2018, U.S. Africa Command stated in a press release based on an initial post-strike intelligence review the strike killed five al-Shabaab terrorists, and that the command assessed "no civilians were killed in this airstrike.” Unaware of the subsequent assessment and findings, senior leaders later stated during congressional testimony and media engagements that U.S. forces caused zero civilian casualties in Africa.

U.S. Africa Command is committed to transparency in its reporting of civilian casualties. While believed to be an isolated occurrence, the reporting error is being addressed.

Reporting at the time of the incident included some mention of civilian casualties.

An al Shabaab statement reported in the local media said two prominent local elders, Ali Hared and Yusuf Dhegay, were killed. All Africa also reported the death of a woman, but it was unclear if she had been included in the al Shabaab statement. The news site however said the strike took place on April 2, not April 1.

New Arab said that pro-al Shabaab media outlets reported two civilian deaths, referencing senior commanders of the group. Sources in the area also told All Africa that a drone fired a missile which hit a convoy carrying civilians, but no additional details were given.

Two Somali intelligence officials meanwhile told AP that the strike hit a vehicle carrying senior al Shabaab officials and the dead included a woman.

US Africa Command's initial statement said that the strike killed five al Shabaab fighters and destroyed a vehicle near El Burr.

The strike, according to All Africa, took place in Da'ar, an al Shabaab controlled area around 20 kilometres from El Burr. El Burr is in the semi-autonomous region of Galmudug.

We are aware that the BBC reported that a woman and a child were killed in the strike, following the concession of civilian harm from US Africa Command. We have not seen any confirmation of this from Africom, so have reached out to them for clarification. We will update this entry when we receive any further information.

In an email to the Bureau, US Africa Command confirmed that a woman and a child were killed in the strike.

• Type of strike: US air or drone strike
• Location: El Burr, Galmudug region
• References:The New Arab, All Africa, Xinhua, US Africa Command press release via email, US Africa Command press release

The US carried has carried out ten strikes since the start of the year, a US Africa Command spokesperson confirmed to the Bureau at the start of April. We had recorded only six strikes. The spokesperson provided details on the strikes we had not recorded. 

One of these hit on March 19. "US forces conducted an airstrike against al Shabaab on the morning of March 19 in the vicinity of Mubaarak, Somalia, killing two terrorists, wounding three terrorists, and destroying one vehicle," the spokesperson said.

• Type of strike: US air or drone strikes
• Location: Mubaarak, Lower Shabelle region 
• References: US Africa Command press release via email

The US carried has carried out ten strikes since the start of the year, a US Africa Command spokesperson confirmed to the Bureau at the start of April. We had recorded only six strikes based on press releases from the Command. The spokesperson provided details on the strikes we had not recorded. 

One of these took place on March 13 and targeted al Shabaab fighters in the vicinity of Jamecco.  

"We assess at this time that 12 terrorists were killed in this strike and that 15 were wounded," the spokesperson said.  

• Type of strike: US air or drone strikes
• Location: Jamecco, Middle Shabelle region
• References: US Africa Command press release via email

The US carried has carried out ten strikes since the start of the year, a US Africa Command spokesperson confirmed to the Bureau at the start of April. We had recorded only six strikes based on press releases from the Command. The spokesperson provided details on the strikes we had not recorded. 

The second took place on March 12 and targeted al Shabaab fighters in the vicinity of Kamsuuma. However, due to unanticipated cloud cover, the strike was aborted in mid-air. The spokesperson said this was still included in their official strike count. 

• Type of strike: US air or drone strikes
• Location: Kamsuuma, Lower Juba region
• References: US Africa Command press release via email

US forces carried out a strike against al Shabaab fighters in Jilib, killing two members of the group and injuring one other, according to a US Africa Command press release.

Shabelle Media Network had reported a strike carried out by unknown forces, but said this occurred the day before the strike confirmed by Africom. Sources told them it hit an al Shabaab controlled town. One resident said a militant camp was targeted in the district of Jilib, described as an al Shabaab strong-hold in the Middle Shabelle region. Jilib appears to be both a district and a town.

Jilib was the site of another US strike on February 19.

• Type of strike: US air or drone strikes
• Location: Jilib, Middle Juba Region 
• References: US Africa Command press release via email, Shabelle Media Network 

A US strike on al Shabaab killed four members of the group, according to a US Africa Command press release. The strike hit in the vicinity of Jamaame, in Somalia's Lower Juba region. 

"I can tell you that the airstrike hit a rickshaw and that five militants were killed. It was carried out by US drone, helping our intelligence forces on the ground," a Somali government official told VOA Somali. 

Some sources said two of those killed in the rickshaw were civilians travelling with three militants. US Africa Command has said they assessed no civilians killed in the strike. We have recorded 0-2 civilians in our casualty range to reflect the possibility of civilian casualties. 

• Type of strike: US air or drone strike
• Location: Jamaame, Lower Juba region
• References: US Africa Command press release via email, VOA

Three members of Al Shabaab were killed in a US strike, US Africa Command has said.

The strike took place in in the vicinity of Jilib, a town in Somalia's Middle Juba Region.  

Africom said it has assessed that no civilians were killed in the strike. 

• Type of strike: US air or drone strikes
• Location: Jilib, Middle Juba Region 
• References: US Africa Command press release via email

The US carried has carried out ten strikes since the start of the year, a US Africa Command spokesperson confirmed to the Bureau at the start of April. We had recorded only six strikes. The spokesperson provided details on the strikes we had not recorded. 

The first took place on February 6 in the vicinity of Kunyo Barrow. The target was an al-Shabaab fighter, but Africa Command said it assessed zero "terrorists" killed in the strike.

• Type of strike: US air or drone strikes
• Location: Kunyo Barrow, Lower Shabelle region
• References: US Africa Command press release via email

The US confirmed it accompanied Somali troops in a mission that rescued 30 boys from an al Shabaab indoctrination centre in the Lower Shabelle region. However, during the rescue attempt, fire from Somali forces killed some people believed to under the age of 18. Those killed had been firing at the Somali soldiers leading them to respond, according to US Africa Command. 

"US personnel were in an advisory capacity, and did not fire their weapons," an Africom statement said.  

A team of US Special Operations Forces advised local Somali troops during the raid on the camp in the Middle Shabelle region of Somalia, a US military official told CNN. A Somali intelligence official told AP it took place in the region's Jame’o village. A local commander was among the dead, he said. 

On the same day, US forces launched a strike which killed four al Shabaab members, according to US Africa Command. The strike is recorded in the entry below. 

We have added the raid into our database, which records US operations in Somalia. From the US account, the deaths that occurred in this raid resulted from Somali fire. We have therefor recorded at 0-5 deaths, reflecting the US line but also reflecting other possibilities.

• Type of strike: Ground operation - Somali-led or joint operation
• Location: Lower Shabelle region
• References: AP, CNN, Somalia Update, US Africa Command via email 

US forces carried out a strike against al Shabaab, killing four members of the group, according to a press release from US Africa Command.

The strike occurred 50 kilometres northwest of Kismayo. No civilians were killed in the strike, it said. 

No additional details were provided.

• Type of strike: US air or drone strike
• Location: 50 kilometres northwest of Kismayo
• References: US Africa Command press release via email 

A US strike killed two al Shabaab fighters and destroyed a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED), according to a US Africa Command press release, "preventing it from being used against the people in Mogadishu".

The strike, which took place in the early hours of the morning, hit approximately 50 kilometers west of the capital.

This is the second strike in a week that Africa Command has said hit a VBIED. 

• Type of strike: US air or drone strike
• Location: 50 kilometers west of Mogadishu 
• References: US Africa Command press release via email