Somalia: Reported US actions 2017
The timeline below contains information on all US drone strikes and covert operations in Somalia recorded by the Bureau in 2017. The Bureau derives its data from open sources – predominantly media reports and, latterly, the US headquarters responsible for the war in Somalia, Africa Command or Africom.
Please note that our data changes according to our current understanding of particular strikes. The information below represents our present best estimate.
The Pentagon’s Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) has carrying out air strikes and ground raids in Somalia for ten years, though it has been conducting clandestine operations against al Qaeda in East Africa, and its local ally al Shabaab, since the aftermath of the September 11 attacks.
JSOC are routinely deployed on the ground for surveillance, reconnaissance, and assault and capture operations. Air attacks began in 2007 with helicopters and AC-130 gunships – vast ground attack aircraft that bristle with weapons. In June 2011, the US began carrying out drone strikes in Somalia.
The US has been chasing leaders of al Shabaab, a local Somali insurgent groups, who had ties to al Qaeda. This therefore made them targets under the 2001 Authorisation for the Use of Military Force Act, a hastily drafted law giving the US president the right to target and kill al Qaeda and its associates wherever he might find them.
Al Shabaab as a whole has not been specifically targeted, the US says, despite, al Qaeda leader Ayman al Zawahiri announcing on February 9 2012 that al Shabaab had formally become a franchise of al Qaeda. In 2014 the frequency of US attacks in Somalia increased as the US started giving African peace keepers air support, targeting al Shabaab fighters who threatened the African troops and their US advisors.
The Bureau publishes a narrative timeline of US strikes in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Somalia and Yemen each year. The 2017 timeline for Pakistan will be below. Links for all other timelines can be found here.
We also publish spreadsheets detailing casualty numbers in each country. You can download the entire Somalia sheet here.
| US air and drone strikes | Additional US attacks | |
|---|---|---|
| Total strikes | 35 | 3 |
| Total people killed | 216-242 | 4-19 |
| Civilians reported killed | 0-15 | 0-10 |
| Children reported killed | 0 | 0-3 |
| People reported injured | 11-19 | 0 |
Strikes
A US strike killed four al Shabaab fighters and destroyed a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device, according to US Africa Command.
The strike, which hit early evening at approximately 25 kilometers west of the capital, prevented the VBIED "from being used against the people in Mogadishu", it said.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: 25 kilometers west of Mogadishu
- References: US Africa Command press release via email
US forces carried out a strike on the morning of December 24 killing 13 members of al Shabaab, according to a US Africa Command press release.
The press release continued:
U.S. forces will continue to use all authorized and appropriate measures to protect the United States, its partners and interests, and deny safe haven to terrorist groups. 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.
The strike hit southern Somalia, however no additional location details were provided.
However, The Daily Nation, a Kenyan news site, said the strike hit an al Shabaab training camp, which they located in Ball Raho. It reported that two Kenyan nationals were injured in the strike and were currently being treated at an Al Shabaab operated medical facility, citing a document shared among Kenyan security.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: southern Somalia
- References: US Africa Command press release via email, The Daily Nation
US forces carried out a strike against al Shabaab fighters in the early evening hours of 15 December, US Africa Command said, adding that eight members of the group were killed and one vehicle was destroyed.
Africom said the strike hit approximately 30 miles northwest of Kismayo. Xinhua spoke to a military official who said several strikes hit Berhani, which they placed a similar distance from Kismayo. The official said the strikes targeted an Al Shabaab base.
Xinhua also spoke to Berhani residents who said there were huge explosions in the early hours of December 16. "We heard huge explosions and the earth was shaking. We are told Al-Shabaab base was hit by American drones," a resident said.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: 30 miles northwest of Kismayo
- References: US Africa Command press release via email, Xinhua
SOM077 link
12 December 2017
US Forces carried out a strike against an "al-Shabaab vehicle-borne improvised explosive device" in the early hours of December 12, Africa Command announced, removing an "imminent threat to the people of Mogadishu".
It hit 65 kilometers southwest of the capital, Africom said. Ali Enure, the deputy governor of Lower Shabelle region, placed it in the village of Mubarak in the Lower Shabelle region.
"The vehicle was loaded with explosives intended to harm civilians," Enure told VOA."Our intelligence sources in the area and local residents who saw the vehicle reported to us that the vehicle was destroyed, as a missile from a drone hit the hood."
Al Shabaab reportedly issued photos showing what they said was the targeted vehicle, but these showed a minibus carrying bananas. The damage to the vehicle in the pictures is relatively small considering local reports, and US Africa Command's assertion, that it was carrying explosives, alongside the deputy governor's comments.
Africom said they assessed that no civilians were killed in the strike. There were no further details on casualty figures.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Mubarak village, Lower Shabelle
- References: US Africa Command press release via email, VOA, All Africa
SOM076C link
6 December 2017
- 0-5 civilians reported killed, including 0-2 children
- 0-2 civilians reported injured
- Unknown al Shabaab casualties
Five civilians, including two children, were killed when a vehicle carrying al Shabaab fighters exploded, after being hit by what is thought to be a US airstrike, Amnesty International reported - though US Africa Command deny any strikes in the area on this day.
The explosion reportedly injured a further two civilians, including an 18 month old girl.
According to Amnesty's research, whilst al Shabaab control the area of Illimey, they do not have much of a presence in the area and don't tend to visit very often.
They spoke to five eyewitnesses about an unfamiliar truck, thought to potentially be driven by al Shabaab fighters, in the town on that day that was later blown up.
One witness told Amnesty International the men wanted water to take ablution (wash) before praying. Another reported that a suspected Al-Shabaab fighter got out of the truck and put a gun to the head of Osman Hussein Osman, a 45-year-old camel herder from the village. “They stopped him with a gun and made him put his water in the cooler of the car” Jibril, a farmer who was in the village told Amnesty International. Then, moments later, a projectile hit the truck, witnesses explained. “There was dust everywhere and smoke and bodies of humans and animals,” said Jibril.
Amnesty reported that among the dead were:
Osman Hussein Osman, a 45 year old camel herder
Fadumo Osman Hussein, Osman's seven year old daughter
Maalim Abdow Fillow Mudey, a 45 year old teacher and father of ten
Amina Abdow Fillow Mudey, Maalim's 17 year old daughter
Abdow Mohamed Aliyow Boor, a 30 year old camel herder
There were also two people injured in the attack: Fartun Osman Hussein and Mohamed Hussein Abdi.
The explosion destroyed the vehicle and killed all of the suspected al Shabaab fightters inside of it, Amnesty reported.
Despite having looked at satellite imagery and conduction on the ground investigations, Amnesty can not be 100% sure that a US air strike caused the explosion - though they say that it is the most plausible answer.
US Africa Command deny conducting a strike on this day. Their response to Amnesty's allegation of civilian harm read:
AFRICOM did not conduct a strike at this location. Additional information provided by […] Amnesty International indicated that the strike in question involved secondary explosions. On 11 December 2017, one week after the alleged incident, AFRICOM did strike a VBIED approximately 35 miles from this location but no secondary explosions were observed.
A local government official said the strike hit a car used by al Shabaab fighters to "transport supplies to a squad preparing bomb" in Ilimey village, about 130 km (80 miles) southwest of Mogadishu.
“The strike hit the car ... but we do not know details of casualties,” said Ali Nur, deputy governor of Somalia’s lower Shabelle region, speaking to Reuters. Reuters also said it was not clear who carried out the strike. The Kenyan military has conducted strikes in Somalia, but these have tended to be closer to the Kenyan border.
In a Guardian article published in January 2018, there were reports of civilian casualties from a strike on December 6. Guardian reported a five-year-old girl, a 17-year-old girl and three men were killed.
Mohamed Abdullahi, a resident of Illimey village, which is about 80 miles south-west of Mogadishu, told the Guardian: “Farmers had gathered at a tea shop ... when the drone begun to fly over ... Some of the victims were passing on the road while some were inside drinking their afternoon tea. Five died on the spot. They are not killing al-Shabaab. They are killing civilians,” he said.
Two casualties were confirmed by hospital officials. They said an 18-month-old girl and a 23-year-old man had been brought with shrapnel injuries.
We have recorded this as a possible US strike to reflect the official US denial.
- Type of strike: Possible US strike
- Location: Ilimey village
- References: Reuters, US Africa Command via email, The Guardian, Amnesty International
US forces carried out a strike in northeastern Somalia on November 27, killing one Islamic State fighters, an Africom press release said.
The strike hit at around 1500 local time (1200 GMT).
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Northeastern Somalia
- References: US Africa Command press release via email
More than 100 al Shabaab fighters were killed in a US strike on one of the group's training camps, according to a US Africa Command press release.
The strike hit at approximately 1030 local time (0730 GMT) 125 miles northwest of the capital, Mogadishu.
The Africom press release said:
Al-Shabaab has pledged allegiance to al-Qaeda and is dedicated to providing safe haven for terrorist attacks throughout the world. Al Shabaab has publicly committed to planning and conducting attacks against the US and our partners in the region.
US forces will continue to use all authorized and appropriate measures to protect Americans and to disable terrorist threats. This includes partnering with AMISOM and Somali National Security Forces (SNSF); targeting terrorists, their training camps and safe havens throughout Somalia, the region and around the world.
Our political and security goals in Somalia are the same: a reconstituted Somali state at peace internally and able to address all threats within its territory.
The Somali government said it requested the strike. “Those militants were preparing explosives and attacks. Operations against al Shabaab have been stepped up,” Somali Information Minister Abdirahman Omar Osman told Reuters. “We have asked the US to help us from the air to make our readied ground offensive more successful.”
Somalia’s state news agency SONNA had reported the deaths of a 100 fighters following an attack on al Shabaab bases by US planes and Somali commandos. They placed this attack in Bur Elay area of Bay region. Military officials also told VOA that the strike hit Somalia's Bay region. The region appears to fit with Africom's vague description of the strike's location.
An Al Shabaab spokesperson denied the attack to Reuters.
A 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 killed six al Shabaab fighters in the village of Idow Jalad.
A statement from Africa Command said the strike was carried out "in coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia" and hit at approximately 1800 local time in an area about 60 miles northwest of Mogadishu.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Idow Jalad, Lower Shabelle
- Reference: US Africa Command statement, VOA
The sixth strike in five days hit Somalia, targeting al Shabaab fighters, the US military told the Bureau.
An Africa Command spokesperson said the attack occurred at 0840 near Gaduud about 250 miles southwest of Mogadishu. As of November 15, the US was still "assessing the results of the strike".
The spokesperson said:
During a Somali-led counterterrorism operation, a group of armed al Shabaab terrorists posed an imminent threat to Somali-led and US forces, a threat which the Somali's and their partners were unable to mitigate. In response, the US conducted a self-defence strike against the armed militant group to neutralise the threat.
The spokesperson for Somalia's security ministry told Voice of America the strike hit in the town of Awhiigle. "It is part of an ongoing efforts [sic] to target the militant hideouts and bases, from where they organise attacks against our people," he said.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Awhiigle, Gaduud
- Reference: US Africa Command spokesperson via email, VOA
Two US strikes took place in Somalia on November 12, 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 is recorded below. The second strike was carried out at approximately 0900 local time against Islamic State in Somalia's Puntland region, Africom said.
This and the four additional strikes between November 9 and November 12 killed "more than 40 terrorists," a Pentagon spokesperson told reporters on November 13. He did not say how many people were killed in which of the five strikes, "for operational reasons," an Africom spokesperson told the Bureau on November 15.
Four of the 40 dead were members of the Islamic State group - they are counted in this entry. The rest were in al Shabaab. We have logged 19 previously unreported casualties in this entry as well, while the exact accounting of fatality to strike remains secret.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Puntland
- References: US Africa Command via email, AFP, US Africa Command spokesperson via email
A US strike in the lower Shabelle region reportedly killed three civilians, Amnesty International reported.
Two US strikes took place in Somalia on November 12, one targeting al Shabaab and the other hitting Islamic State fighters, according to US Africa Command. The strikes killed "several fighters", it said.
The first strike hit at around 0300 local time, the second strike is included in the entry above.
In a March 2019 report on civilian harm in Somalia by Amnesty International, details of this strike were reported.
Three local farmers, Ibrahim Siid Wehelow (20 years old), Hassan Meyow Abkey (40 years old) and Ahmed Jeylani Sheekhow (26 years old) were reportedly killed when a strike targeted them as they were sleeping under a tree.
The men reportedly finished work at 2am, too tired to walk and were waiting underneath the tree for a ferry the next morning to take them back from their farm to their homes on the other side of the Shabelle river.
Witnesses described to Amnesty how al Shabaab came the next morning and rearranged the bodies, staging them for photos that they published online. The photos meant that Amnesty could geolocate the strike to a farm road 2 km southeast of Darusalaam.
Hassan Meyow Abkey was a local expert in fixing smartphones according to locals that Amnesty witnessed, leading some to believe that they were targeted because he was fixing an al Shabaab phone and the US were using signals intelligence (SIGINT).
From all of their available information, Amnesty assessed that all three of the men were civilians. In response to Amnesty International's allegations, US Africa Command replied that the three men were members of al Shabaab:
AFRICOM conducted a precision-guided strike that corresponds to the time and location alleged, targeting al-Shabaab fighters. The Shahada News Agency, an al-Shabaab media outlet, alleged CIVCAS shortly after the event and supported the claim using staged photos. AFRCOM conducted a CIVCAS allegation assessment and determined that the three men described in the allegation were not sleeping at the time of the strike and were members of al-Shabaab.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Darusalaam, Lower Shabelle region
- References: US Africa Command via email, AFP, US Africa Command spokesperson via email, Amnesty International
US forces carried out a strike against al Shabaab at approximately 1630 local time on November 11, US Africa Command said.
The strike, which it said killed single fighter, took place near Gaduud, located 250 miles southwest of the capital.
This and the four additional strikes between November 9 and November 12 killed "more than 40 terrorists," a Pentagon spokesperson told reporters on November 13. He did not say how many people were killed in which of the five strikes, "for operational reasons," an Africom spokesperson told the Bureau on November 15.
"Prior to this strike, US forces observed the al-Shabaab combatant participating in attacks on a US and Somali convoy," an Africom spokesperson told the Bureau. "US forces subsequently conducted the strike under collective self-defense authorities."
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Gaduud
- References: US Africa Command via email, AFP, US Africa Command spokesperson via email
US forces carried out a strike against al Shabaab at approximately 2000 local Somalia time killing "several" fighters, US Africa Command (Africom) said.
The strike hit the Lower Shabelle region. A Somali military official told Voice of America the strike, which they said was carried out by a drone, hit fighters in the region's Basra village, located 30 kilometres north of Mogadishu.
A local Somali official claimed three civilians had been killed in the strike though the spokesperson for the security ministry dismissed the allegation as al Shabaab propaganda, Voice of America reported. An Africom spokesperson told the Bureau this allegation had not been judged to be credible.
The official said at least 13 fighters had been killed. This and the four additional strikes between November 9 and November 12 killed "more than 40 terrorists," a Pentagon spokesperson told reporters on November 13. He did not say how many people were killed in which of the five strikes, "for operational reasons," an Africom spokesperson told the Bureau on November 15.
US forces carried out a strikes against al Shabaab at approximately 1500 local Somalia time on November 9, US Africa Command said in a press release.
This and the four additional strikes over the following three days killed "more than 40 terrorists," a Pentagon spokesperson told reporters on November 13. He did not say how many people were killed in which of the five strikes, "for operational reasons," an Africom spokesperson told the Bureau on November 15.
The strike, in the Bay region of Somalia around 100 miles west of the capital, killed "several" fighters, according to Africom.
The press release continued:
Al-Shabaab has pledged allegiance to al-Qaeda and is dedicated to providing safe haven for terrorist attacks throughout the world. Al-Shabaab has publicly committed to planning and conducting attacks against the U.S. and our partners in the region.
US forces will continue to use all authorized and appropriate measures to protect Americans and to disable terrorist threats. This includes partnering with AMISOM and Somali National Security Forces (SNSF); targeting terrorists, their training camps and safe havens throughout Somalia, the region and around the world.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Bay region
- References: US Africa Command spokesperson via email, AFP, US Africa Command spokesperson via email
US Africa Command confirmed two US strikes against Islamic State, believed to mark the first time the US has targeted the group.
The first strike hit at approximately midnight local Somalia time, while the second occurred at approximately 11am local time. The strikes killed "several" fighters, Africom said.
Intelligence sources told VOA the second round of strikes killed fighters gathered at a place believed to be a burial site for those killed in the overnight strike.
Associated Press spoke to a Somali security official who said at least six missiles hit Buqa, described as a remote mountainous village roughly 60 kilometres (37 miles) north of Qandala town in Puntland. Intelligence sources told VOA at least four missiles hit caves in Buqa Valley.
The Puntland region's president told VOA the leader of the group was the target of the strikes, but he had not been killed. “They [US] were targeting those troublemakers and their biggest leader Abdulkadir Mumin, they were looking for them,” Abdiweli Mohamed Ali told VOA. “Based on the information I’m getting he is still alive and is not dead.” An unnamed US official had told AP the strikes may have targeted top leaders of the group.
A senior Somali intelligence official also told VOA is was "likely" Mumin survived the attack, but believed up to 20 fighters were killed in the strikes. They added that some of the caves they were sheltering in collapsed on them as a result of the bombing. The official believes two foreign fighters were also targeted in the area, including a Sudanese fighter.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Qandala town, Puntland
- References: US Africa Command press release, AP, VOA
SOM066 link
16 October 2017
- 0-5 reported killed
- 0-2 civilians reported killed
- 0-8 reported injured, including 0-2 children
A US drone strike near Bariire on October 16 has been confirmed by the US military, however, numerous allegations of civilian harm by international media are being denied.
In March 2019 Amnesty International published a report on civilian harm in Somalia that detailed this incident. Their report claims a US armed drone targeted a suspected al Shabaab vehicle travelling between Awdheegle and Barire - two al Shabaab controlled towns. It reportedly killed two civilians and injured five others, including two children, alongside an unknown number of al Shaabab fighters.
Amnesty spoke to eyewitnesses who told them that the first strike missed the vehicle and struck the eastern bank of the road next to some makeshift homes in a settlement. This strike killed Sheikh Ahmed Sheikh Yusuf Hussein, a 25 year old farmer. A second munition was then fired that struck the vehicle as it was continuing to the north of the settlement.
Bashir, who fled the attack, told Amnesty that he returned to find Sheikh Ahmed dying in his home - just 20 steps away from where the munition had struck - as shrapnel had gone right through him.
Amnesty also named Siidow Abdullahi Mohamed Hassan, a 40 year old farmer as being fatally injured in the attack - he was reportedly taken to Sudan for further treatment before he died a few days later.
A further five civilians were injured in the drone strike, including the eight year old son of Siidow, Mohamed Siidow Abdullahi, and a six year old boy named Khalif Adow Osman.
US Africa Command denied that any civilians were harmed in response to Amnesty's allegations:
AFRICOM conducted a precision-guided strike that corresponds to the time and location alleged, targeting a vehicle containing al-Shabaab fighters. Social media posts alleged CIVCAS shortly after the event. AFRICOM conducted a CIVCAS allegation assessment regarding this strike and determined it is not likely to have caused the civilian casualties. Information gathered before and after the strike indicated that all individuals injured or killed were members or affiliates of al-Shabaab
They assessed that the strike resulted in "three enemy wounded in action and one vehicle destroyed".
Whilst US Africa Command did not initially publish a press release regarding this strike, they confirmed to the Bureau that they carried out a strike against al Shabaab at 16:30 local time.
An Africom spokesperson said the operation occurred in southern Somalia, about 35 miles southwest of Mogadishu, they would not confirm it hit the town of Bariire, as reported by Shabelle Media Network. Bariire is however a similar distance from the capital. The Shabelle Media Network said the strike targeted a convoy of al Shabaab members travelling on the outskirts of the area.
The Guardian published an article in January 2018 detailing strikes in Somalia that had led to allegations of civilian casualties. One of these took place on an unspecified day in October. In the Guardian piece, it says US officials confirmed a single strike 35 miles southwest of Mogadishu. This could mean that the strike confirmed by the US to us is the same one referred to by the Guardian.
Local sources told the Guardian that eight civilians in the village of Awdhegle had been injured. An elder from the village said said three women, a child and four men were transported to a hospital in Mogadishu after their house was hit.“They were herders and farmers, not al-Shabaab ,” the elder said. A doctor at the hospital told the Guardian two men and a woman injured in an airstrike between Awdhegle and Barire were treated.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Near Bariire, Lower Shabelle region
- References: US Africa Command via email, Shabelle Media Network, Voice of America, New York Times, The Guardian, Amnesty International report
On November 17 US Africa Command sent the Bureau a list of previously unreported strikes, which included this one.
An Africom spokesperson explained that their goal "is to be as transparent as possible while taking into account operational security, force protection and diplomatic sensitivities." It therefore did not proactively release information about all of its strikes. It was limited to confirming or denying US operations took place when asked directly for those strikes that were not cleared to be reported in press releases.
The spokesperson would not say specifically where the attacks hit, telling the Bureau the best they could say was all the unreported strikes were conducted in southern Somalia, "for operational security reasons".
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Southern Somalia
- Reference: US Africa Command via email
On November 17 US Africa Command sent the Bureau a list of previously unreported strikes, which included this one.
An Africom spokesperson explained that their goal "is to be as transparent as possible while taking into account operational security, force protection and diplomatic sensitivities." It therefore did not proactively release information about all of its strikes. It was limited to confirming or denying US operations took place when asked directly for those strikes that were not cleared to be reported in press releases.
The spokesperson would not say specifically where the attacks hit, telling the Bureau the best they could say was all the unreported strikes were conducted in southern Somalia, "for operational security reasons".
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Southern Somalia
- Reference: US Africa Command via email
The US carried out an air strike on September 13, killing six al Shabaab members, according to a press release from US Africa Command.
The strike took place at approximately 0215 local time (1115 GMT), hitting an area in southern Somalia about 260km south of the capital, Africom said.
The original press release said three strikes took place however a spokesperson told the Bureau Africom had changed how it classified airstrikes in October and that the three attacks carried out in this operation now constituted a single strike operation.
The strike was carried out under the parameters of authorities granted by President Trump in March. This gave US commanders greater freedom to launch strikes and raids in a geographically-defined area for at least 180 days.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Southern Somalia
- References: US Africa Command via email, US Africa Command via email
A US strike hit near Baraawe at approximately 1445 local time (1145 GMT) on September 7, killing one al Shabaab fighter, an Africa Command press release said.
The strike was carried out under authorities passed in March declaring certain parts of Somalia areas of "active hostilities". This gave US commanders greater freedom to carry out strikes and raids without going through the White House bureaucracy.
A US Africa Command spokesman, Lt. Cmdr. Anthony Falvo, told Associated Press that he does not have the identity of the al Shabab member killed.
This is the second strike to have taken place in Barawe, a port town, in a week.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike:
- Location: Barawe, Lower Shabelle region
- References: US Africa Command press release via email, AP
The US announced it carried out a "precision air strike" at approximately 0950 local time (0650 GMT), killing three al Shabaab fighters.
The strike, it said, hit in the Bay region of Somalia, about 75 kilometers west of the capital. It was carried out in support African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and Somali National Army (SNA) forces operating in the area.
A press release from Africom said, "US forces will continue to use all authorised and appropriate measures to protect Americans and to disable terrorist threats. This includes partnering with AMISOM and Somali National Security Forces (SNSF); targeting terrorists, their training camps and safe havens throughout Somalia, the region and around the world."
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Bay region
- References: US Africa Command press release
The US has said it carried out a strike near Barawe in southern Somalia on August 31, killing one al Shabaab fighter and wounding one other.
Officials told Voice of America that the fighter killed was a key al Shabaab commander. Aden Omar, the district commissioner of Barawe town, identified the deceased as Abu-Xudeyfi, but local sources reportedly put his name as Sheekh Abdirahman Xudeyfi.
"I can confirm that the airstrike happened on Friday [September 1]. It was carried out by a suspected US drone. The strike targeted al-Shabab officials. Our intelligence sources confirm that a top al-Shabab commander in charge of recruiting fighters for the militants was killed in the strike,” Omar told VOA.
“The killed official was named Abu-Xudeyfi, probably his al-Shabab name; we are currently assessing if any other al-Shabab official was hit in the attack, and will provide additional information as appropriate," he added.
Local sources told VOA the strike hit a vehicle in which al-Shabab officials were traveling in near Kunya Barrow village in the Lower Shabelle region.
The US military and the Somali government announced they were investigating reports that ten civilians, including three children, were killed during an operation on a farm in Bariire, in Somalia's southern Lower Shabelle region.
However, on November 28 the US published a press release concluding only "armed enemy combatants" were killed.
Earlier that day, the Daily Beast had published an lengthy investigation into the raid. The investigation presented evidence that American soldiers were involved directly in the deaths of the ten civilians reported killed, which included eye witness accounts and the examination of bullet casings. See full story here: https://www.thedailybeast.com/... Sources told them, American diplomats also pressured the Somali government to bury the unfavorable findings of a Somali Federal Government-led investigation into the raid.
Following the incident, the Somali information ministry said eight al Shabaab fighters had been killed in the raid, according to AP, but later issued a statement acknowledging the reports of civilian casualties. It added that there were different security operations taking place in the area. VOA later reported that the Somali army had admitted its forces, supported by US troops, had mistakenly shot dead 10 civilians, including three children.
“It was not a deliberate action. It was an accident and misunderstanding between the forces and local farmers in the area,” Somali army chief General Ahmed Jimale Irfid told VOA. “It was early Friday morning while it was dark, our forces mistook the local farmers as al Shabaab members; some farmers were armed; there was a shoot-out, we don’t know who started the shooting and that is how the incident started.”
Witnesses and local officials told the media the civilians were killed by shots fired during a raid by Somali and US forces on the farm early morning on August 25.
The deputy governor of the region, Ali Nur Mohamed, said farmers were killed "one by one" after soldiers stormed the village. "These local farmers were attacked by foreign troops while looking after their crops," Mohamed told reporters. "The troops could have arrested them because they were unarmed but instead shot them one by one mercilessly."
Three children aged between 8 and 10 and a woman were also killed, he added. When Reuters visited a local hospital, they saw nine bodies including three children said to be aged eight, nine and ten years old. Medics said an elderly man later died which would bring the death toll to ten. At least one of the dead was a child, according to the Daily Beast investigation.
Garowe Online named the ten people allegedly killed, but listed them all as farmers. There was no mention of the children in its reporting.
A witness told Reuters: “It was this morning when white and Somali forces entered the farm. All the 10 people were asleep and I ran for my life." A clan elder also said the victims were sleeping when US and Somali forces came onto the farm.
Lawmaker Dahir Amin Jesow told Reuters the raid was possibly the result of misleading intel. The area is reportedly the centre of a feud between two powerful clans and he believes one group may have tipped off the security forces that the other side were insurgents. Those killed, he said, were farmers armed to defend themselves against the rival group.
This is not the first time an accusation like this has been made. In September last year, a US strike in in Galkayo hit ten members of a local militia from Galmudug region. Galmudug region’s Security Minister Osman Issa blamed intelligence forces in the Puntland region for giving the US incorrect information. The two regions have clashed on a number of occasions.
Clan elder Abukar Osman Sheikh told Reuters: “They were sleeping in their farm when US and Somali forces came into their farm and opened fire. Last year, the US killed my people in Galkayo in a deliberate strike. We shall not bury them. We shall no longer tolerate it.”
The bodies of the victims were taken to the capital, Mogidishu, and left on display in a show of anger.
We have recorded 0-10 civilian deaths, including 0-3 children, in our database. The Somali army has said its forces killed the civilians during this operation, which would mean they would not be included in our casualty tally as we record US actions. However, other reporting suggests US soldiers were directly involved. The range reflects the lack of clarity over what exactly happened on the August 25 incident.
- Type of strike: Ground operation - Somali-led or joint operation
- Location: Bariire, Lower Shabelle region
- References: Associated Press, Reuters, US Africa Command press release via email, VOA, Garowe Online, The Daily Beast, US Africa Command press release via email
The US announced it carried out a series of attacks between August 16 and 17, killing seven al Shabaab fighters.
Initially this was reported as three strikes by Africom. However it has changed the way it records air operations, it told the Bureau in November.
From October it moved from counting each individual attack on a target as a strike they record a strike when they have had the desired effect on the target, regardless of the number of attacks that may take.
A US defence official told CNN that pro-government Somali troops, accompanied by US military advisers, came under direct attack from a group of al Shabaab fighters in the early hours of August 17. They had been approaching the objective of a planned counter-terrorism raid at the time. The US launched a self-defence strike after returning fire from US-Somali ground forces did not stop the attack, CNN reported.
This strike was conducted under authorities approved by US President Donald Trump in March 2017. CNN said the intended target were members of al Shabaab's intelligence network.
The Somali government announced Somali security forces, in coordination with international partners, had conducted an operation in Jilib. It said seven al Shabaab members were killed, including a senior leader responsible for multiple bombings in the capital.
Reports emerged on August 18 that a strike on August 17 by "unidentified foreign warplanes" approximately 10km from Jilib killed seven civilians, all from the same family. Locals suspected it was an American strike.
US Africa Command acknowledged it was aware of the allegation of civilian casualties, saying: "As with any allegation we receive, we will review any information we have about the incident, including information provided by third parties, such as the proximity of the location to the authorised airstrikes, and any other relevant information presented."
The Guardian published an article in January 2018 detailing strikes in Somalia that had led to allegations of civilian casualties. Included in this was explosions in Ahmed Yare village, about 15 miles outside the town of Jilib.
In a phone interview from Kismayo, Halima Sheikh Yare said her cousin Sheikh Mohamed, a “renowned cleric”, was killed along with his wife and five male relatives. She told the Guardian that her cousin was a farmer as well as a religious teacher and local imam and not a leader of al Shabaab.
Hassan Muhumed, a resident of Jilib who visited Ahmed Yare shortly after the strike, said al Shabaab fighters had visited to address locals a day before the attack but had left shortly afterwards. He stated that all those killed were civilians.
A spokesperson for the US military told the Guardian an internal investigation had found allegations of civilian casualties near Jilib at this time were “not credible”.
As a result of the conflict between the accounts of local sources and the investigation of the US military, we have included a range for civilian causalities.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strikes
- Location: Jilib, Middle Juba Region
- References: US Africa Command press release via email, Somali government press release via email, CNN, Shabelle Media Network, US Africa Command via email, The Guardian
The US carried out two "kinetic" strikes against al Shabaab members in the Banadiir region of southern Somalia on August 10, US Africa Command announced.
A press release from the Somali government said a high-level al Shabaab leader had been killed. The release said President Mohamed Farmajo had authorised a coordinated operation with international partners near Shashweyne, on the outskirts of Banadiir region, resulting in the death.
"This individual was part of an al-Shabaab terrorist network responsible for planning and executing several bombings and assassinations in Mogadishu that have killed innocent Somali citizens," it said.
The US has yet to confirm any casualties, but said it is still assessing the operation and will release additional details when appropriate.
Africom said the strike was carried out under authorities approved by US President Donald Trump in March 2017. These declared parts of Somalia an “area of active hostilities” for 180 days, exempting US commanders from certain restraints.
This is the third known US strike in under two weeks. At the end of July, a strike killed Ali Jabal, a high-level al Shabaab commander believed to be behind attacks in Mogadishu and responsible for leading al-Shabaab forces operating there and in Banadiir region. Mogadishu is in Banadiir region.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Banadiir region
- References: US Africa Command press release, Federal Republic of Somalia press release
On November 17 US Africa Command sent the Bureau a list of previously unreported strikes, which included this one.
An Africom spokesperson explained that their goal "is to be as transparent as possible while taking into account operational security, force protection and diplomatic sensitivities." It therefore did not proactively release information about all of its strikes. It was limited to confirming or denying US operations took place when asked directly for those strikes that were not cleared to be reported in press releases.
The spokesperson would not say specifically where the attacks hit, telling the Bureau the best they could say was all the unreported strikes were conducted in southern Somalia, "for operational security reasons".
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Southern Somalia
- Reference: US Africa Command via email
US Africa Command (Africom) confirmed a US strike killed Ali Muhammad Hussein, believed to be a high-level al Shabaab commander.
The strike took place in Tortoroow in southern Somalia at around 1500 local time on July 30, reportedly killing Jabal alone.
Africom said Hussein, who was known as Ali Jabal, was "responsible for leading al-Shabaab forces operating in the Mogadishu and Banadiir regions in planning and executing attacks against the capital of Mogadishu."
"The US conducted this operation in coordination with its regional partners as a direct response to al Shabaab actions, including recent attacks on Somali forces," Africom said in a statement announcing the strike. "We continue to work in coordination with our Somali partners and allies to systematically dismantle al Shabaab, and help achieve stability and security throughout the region."
"His removal disrupts al-Shabaab's ability to plan and conduct attacks in Mogadishu and coordinate efforts between Al-Shabaab regional commanders," read a separate Africom press release announcing Jabal's death.
The Somali information ministry had announced Jabal's death earlier, describing him as the shadow al Shabaab governor for Mogadishu. "This individual was part of an al-Shabab network responsible for planning and executing several bombings and assassinations that resulted in the deplorable death of numerous innocent civilians in Mogadishu," a statement from the ministry reportedly said.
According to Stars and Stripes, Somalia's information ministry said Jabal was killed in what was described as an operation coordinated with "international partners". Reuters said the information ministry called it a "military raid" carried out with its military and allied foreign troops, although the nationality of the troops was not given. A Somali intelligence official told Stars and Stripes at least one missile struck a car Hussein was travelling in.
Al Qaeda confirmed Jabal's death in an online statement on August 26. “The cowardly American enemy planes tried to strike him. The first missed him and the second hit, making him a martyr,” said the al Qaeda statement according to Reuters.
The strike was carried out under authorities approved by US President Donald Trump in March 2017. These declared parts of Somalia an “area of active hostilities” for 180 days, exempting US commanders from certain restraints.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike:
- Location: Near Tortoroow, Lower Shabelle region
- References: US Africa Command press release, US Africa Command press release, Stars and Stripes, Reuters, Reuters
On November 17 US Africa Command sent the Bureau a list of previously unreported strikes, which included this one.
An Africom spokesperson explained that their goal "is to be as transparent as possible while taking into account operational security, force protection and diplomatic sensitivities." It therefore did not proactively release information about all of its strikes. It was limited to confirming or denying US operations took place when asked directly for those strikes that were not cleared to be reported in press releases.
The spokesperson would not say specifically where the attacks hit, telling the Bureau the best they could say was all the unreported strikes were conducted in southern Somalia, "for operational security reasons".
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Southern Somalia
- Reference: US Africa Command via email
Mission in Somalia leads to arrest of al Shabaab suspect link
23 July 2017
A suspected al Shabaab associate who once lived in the US has been arrested during a mission in Somalia, a US Africa Command spokesperson told AP.
It was a Somali-led mission with “limited tactical advisory support” from the US, Spokesperson Jennifer Dyrcz said.
The suspect, identified as Abdirizak Tahlil, is accused of “facilitating the use of improvised explosive devices in Somalia” and is being held by the Somali government, Dyrcz added. He had reportedly been granted status as a lawful US permanent resident and lived in the country between 2006 and 2009.
Somalia Newsroom said it was reportedly a “joint” operation between Somali intelligence agents and Puntland and Galmudug forces, with the tactical advisory support from the US.
Four other al Shabaab suspects were arrested in Galcayo, Somalia Newsroom added. It said local reports claim Abdirizak’s brother, a Galmudug politician, alongside a Galmandug security official, say he is innocent, blaming Puntland forces and the US for his arrest. Tensions have increased between the two regions following a US strike in September which was reported to have killed members of the Galmudug forces. The region's officials claim that Puntland gave incorrect information to the US causing the strike.
Somalia Newsroom notes that Abdirizak was however sentenced to death by a Puntland military court in 2013 for a possession of explosive material, but was allegedly released after a new regional president agreed to a prisoner swap.
The role of the US in this operation may be too limited to include it in our dataset of US operations in Somalia. We have reached out to US Africa Command for additional information.
- References: AP,Somalia Newsroom
On November 17 US Africa Command sent the Bureau a list of previously unreported strikes, which included this one.
An Africom spokesperson explained that their goal "is to be as transparent as possible while taking into account operational security, force protection and diplomatic sensitivities." It therefore did not proactively release information about all of its strikes. It was limited to confirming or denying US operations took place when asked directly for those strikes that were not cleared to be reported in press releases.
The spokesperson would not say specifically where the attacks hit, telling the Bureau the best they could say was all the unreported strikes were conducted in southern Somalia, "for operational security reasons".
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Southern Somalia
- Reference: US Africa Command via email
On November 17 US Africa Command sent the Bureau a list of previously unreported strikes, which included this one.
An Africom spokesperson explained that their goal "is to be as transparent as possible while taking into account operational security, force protection and diplomatic sensitivities." It therefore did not proactively release information about all of its strikes. It was limited to confirming or denying US operations took place when asked directly for those strikes that were not cleared to be reported in press releases.
The spokesperson would not say specifically where the attacks hit, telling the Bureau the best they could say was all the unreported strikes were conducted in southern Somalia, "for operational security reasons".
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Southern Somalia
- Reference: US Africa Command via email
On November 17 US Africa Command sent the Bureau a list of previously unreported strikes, which included this one.
An Africom spokesperson explained that their goal "is to be as transparent as possible while taking into account operational security, force protection and diplomatic sensitivities." It therefore did not proactively release information about all of its strikes. It was limited to confirming or denying US operations took place when asked directly for those strikes that were not cleared to be reported in press releases.
The spokesperson would not say specifically where the attacks hit, telling the Bureau the best they could say was all the unreported strikes were conducted in southern Somalia, "for operational security reasons".
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Southern Somalia
- Reference: US Africa Command via email
US and Somali special forces carried out a night raid on an al Shabaab-held village in southern Somalia, the district commissioner and a senior Somali intelligence officials told reporters. It was the second US operation in the village in two weeks.
Two helicopters inserted the troops into the village where they engaged a small number of al Shabaab fighters, a senior Somali intelligence official told Associated Press. The official said a detention centre was targeted in the raid however the US said "this information is incorrect".
"The special forces of Danab and US troops landed in Kuunyo Barow and destroyed an al Shabaab base in the area," the district commissioner told Dalsan Radio.
The US carried out an air strike in this area on July 2, killing one al Shabaab fighter US Africa Command (Africom) confirmed in a July 20 email.
The only connection between that operation and the July 12 raid was that "both targeted al-Shabaab terrorists," Africom told the Bureau. "US forces, in cooperation with the Government of Somalia, are conducting ongoing operations against al Shabaab in Somalia to degrade the al-Qaeda affiliate's ability to recruit, train and plot external terror attacks."
Africom said US troops were involved in the July 12 operation but that no air strike took place. An Africom spokesperson told the Bureau, by email, that "US forces conducted an advise and assist mission against al Shabaab with members of the Somali National Army July 12 [July 13 local time] in Kunyo Barrow, Somalia."
"Advise and assist" missions involve US special forces soldiers accompanying local troops on operations though Africom maintains the American personnel do not actually engage in combat.
"US forces are assisting partner forces to counter al Shabaab in Somalia to degrade the al Qaeda affiliate's ability to recruit, train and plot external terror attacks throughout the region and in America," the spokesperson added.
The Bureau has contacted the Somali government in Mogadishu and this post will be updated to reflect any response that is forthcoming.
- Type of attack: Possible joint US-Somali ground raid
- Location: Kuunyo Baro, Lower Shabelle
- References: Dalsan Radio, Associated Press, US Africa Command via email, US Africa Command via email
An airstrike reportedly killed up to two civilians in O'wdhille, a village about 55 miles south of Mogadishu, according to findings from a field investigation by The National.
Reporter Amanda Sperber detailed the account of Osman, whose relatives were reportedly killed in the strike:
Around 5 pm in early July 2017, Osman said he heard an explosion. He waited until it seemed safe, and then ran to the farm that was hit—only to find the body of his 38-year-old brother. Osman said his brother was picking fruit with his uncle, 42-year-old Abdullahi, whom he has not seen since and presumes was killed in the blast.
A day later, Osman said, government soldiers came and inspected the scene. After they left, Al Shabab arrived and accused villagers of feeding the government information. Six members of the group interrogated Osman for seven days. He said they blindfolded him, beat him with their rifles, and shot him repeatedly in the leg.
After a local emir negotiated his release, Osman continued, he was tossed in a vegetable cart and left on the side of the road. Still suffering from the wounds of his torture, he took a four-hour minibus ride to Mogadishu, where he spent four months recovering at Medina Hospital. He said that during this time, Al Shabab kept threatening his father and surviving brother.
US Africa Command did not report any strikes near O'wdhiile in July 2017. They did release a list of previously unreported strikes to us in which for operational security reasons, they couldn't give us the exact locations - these are recorded here as SOM051, SOM052 and SOM053. Sperber, however, stated that Africom released the location of these three strikes to her and reports that none are near Osman's house.
She goes on to note that she sent Osman's story on to US Africa Command who stated that it didn't match any of their records. 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: O'wdhiile village, 55 miles south of Mogadishu
- Reference: The National
US forces were involved in a "self-defence strike operation" with Somali National Army (SNA) forces "against an al Shabaab troop concentration" in the country's south, according to an Africa Command (Africom) press release.
The statement did not include a casualty count, saying it "will continue to assess the results of the operation, and will provide additional information as appropriate".
However a Somali government statement said "10 al Shabaab terrorists operating north of Kismayo were killed" in the US-SNA strike "against a formation of al Shabaab terrorists".
"The terrorists attacked a Somali forces outpost and were repelled," the statement added. A Somali military source told Voice of America (VoA) US helicopters ferried Somali special forces to site of the operation and then fired on the militants during an ensuing battle.
"Specific details about the units involved and assets used will not be released in order to ensure operational security," Africom said.
Ahmed Abdullahi Issa, deputy commander of Somalia's national security agency, told VoA the operation was carried out because militants were planning to attack a Somali base.
"They were about 100 militias who were gathering in a jungle area, and we targeted them," he said. "We foiled their attack. We killed 13 and wounded 10 others."
Al Shabaab's Radio Andalus said the terrorist group attacked an SNA base in Jubba region at midnight. The fighting lasted several hours - the group claimed it pushed Somali forces out of their defensive position and back to a larger base where US trainers were based.
The operation happened at approximately 1830 Eastern Daylight Time on July 4, which is 0130 local time (2230 GMT).
- Type of attack: US-Somali joint operation
- Location: Luglaw, Jubba region
- References: Somali government statement via email, Africom statement via email, Voice of America, Radio Andalus via BBC Monitoring
A US airstrike in the Lower Shabelle region on al Shabaab insurgents may have killed a regional commander or the leader of the group's intelligence wing.
The US has confirmed it killed on al Shabaab fighter however has yet to officially confirm this was the al Shabaab commander.
The strike hit in the south of the country and was first reported on Twitter (below) late on July 2. US Africa Command (Africom) confirmed it carried out the strike on July 3, telling the Bureau: "On July 2, at approximately 0730 Eastern Daylight Time [1130 GMT], US forces conducted a kinetic strike operation against al Shabaab, an al Qaeda associated terrorist group."
There was no immediate word on casualties from Africom, who said: "We are currently assessing the results of the operation, and will provide additional information as appropriate."
However anonymous US defence sources told CNN Ahmed Osoble was believed to have been killed. Osoble was described as a "regional commander" who was responsible for gathering intelligence on US forces in Somalia.
On July 20 Africom told the Bureau it had "assessed the results of the July 2 strike and determined one al Shabaab terrorist was killed."
Somali intelligence officials told local media US drones targeted an al Shabaab convoy traveling between Kunya Barow and Barawe on the night of July 2. There were five al Shabaab commanders in the convoy, according to the unnamed Somali official. Among them was Andullahi Haji Daud, commander of al Shabaab's Amniyat - its intelligence wing.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Kunyo Barrow, Lower Shabelle
- References: US Africa Command via email, Twitter, Somalia Update Online, CNN, US Africa Command via email
A US strike on an al Shabaab "command and logistics node" killed eight members of the group, according to a US Africa Command press release.
The attack took place at 2:20am Eastern Standard Time on June 11, according to the statement. This is around 9.20am local time.
The office of Somalia's President Mohamed Abdullahi said the camp was near Sakow, in the Middle Juba region in southern Somalia. Africa Command said it was located 185 miles southwest of Mogadishu.
"Earlier today, I authorised our special forces with the support of our international partners to conduct a strike against an al Shabaab training camp near Sakow," a statement from President Abdullahi said, which suggests Somali special forces were involved in the attack.
It was conducted under authorities approved by US President Donald Trump in March 2017 which declared parts of Somalia an “area of active hostilities” for 180 days exempting US commanders from certain restraints. This however appears to be the first strike conducted since the March change.
Pentagon Chief Spokesperson Dana White said that the strike was carried out as a direct response to al-Shabaab actions. This included recent attacks on Somali forces, she said, possibly referring to last week's attack on a Somali military encampment, which killed up to 70 people, with some reports of civilian casualties.
US Africa Command said US forces, in cooperation with the Somali government, are conducting operations "to degrade the al Qaeda affiliate's ability to recruit, train and plot external terror attacks throughout the region and in America". Al Shabaab was declared by the US an al Qaeda affiliate at the end of last year.
The New York Times was told by an American official that the strike was carried out by at least one armed Reaper drone coming from an air base in Dijibouti. The source said it dropped multiple Hellfire missiles on a camp reportedly monitored by US surveillance aircrafts for months.
Such strikes should be expected now, the US official said, on account of US and Somali officials having closely analysed potential targets that could be attacked following the March change.
SOFREP, a news site written and curated by US special operations veterans, reported the strike targeted the leadership and senior members of the Amniyat, al Shabaab's intelligence service.
They also reported rumours that a commander of the intelligence wing, identified as Abdirahman Mohamed Warsame (also known as Mahad Karate), had been killed.
A source told Reuters that Somali and US forces had been hunting Warsame and the May 5 raid detailed in the entry below had taken place in village where he was believed to be hiding. The US authorities have offered up to $5m for information that brings him to justice. Rewards for Justice describes him as a deputy leader of the group.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Sakow, Middle Juba region
- References: Department of Defence press release, Africa Command press release, Department of Defence press release, The New York Times, Washington Post, Reuters, Reuters, Rewards for Justice, SOFREP
A US serviceman was killed during an operation against al Shabaab in Somalia on May 5 (local time), the first American service member killed in combat in the country since 1993.
US forces were conducting an advise and assist mission alongside members of the Somali National Army (SNA), according to US Africa Command.
Pentagon Spokesperson Captain Jeff Davis said US Navy SEALs and their SNA partners were flown in by helicopter, but came under fire "in the early phase of the mission" after landing near an al Shabaab compound, the target of the mission. The compound was associated with attacks on nearby facilities used by both US and Somali forces, he said.
"We helped bring [the Somali soldiers] in with our aircraft, and we were there maintaining a distance back as they conducted the operation," Davis said. "This was a Somali mission," he stressed.
However, Brig. Gen. David J. Furness, the commander of the military’s task force for the Horn of Africa, said that the US and Somali forces were travelling in a single group when they were attacked.
According to Fox News, the target was Andalus Radio, reportedly a al-Shabab radio station, based in a farm village 40 miles west of Mogadishu. Somali sources told VOA that the village was Dar es Salam, located between the small towns of Barire and Mubarak, reportedly both al Shabaab controlled. These are located in the Lower Shabelle region of Somalia.
Helicopters carried the Navy SEALs and the Somali Danab commando team from Ballidogle airport to a point near Barire, from which they continued to the target on foot, a Somali official told VOA. A small Somali ground force from the town of Afgoye was also sent to help, the official also said.
Fox News said it appears the group were ambushed as they neared the radio station, with a Somalia official telling VOA that al-Shabab brought in reinforcements and encircled the approaching commandos.
Davis said the threat was “quickly neutralized”. By this time Senior Chief Special Warfare Operator Kyle Milliken had however been killed. A US military official told VOA at least two other Navy SEALs and an interpreter were wounded. New York Times said two others were wounded, including the Somali-American interpreter.
A senior official in Lower Shabelle region reportedly said a raid on a building housing the radio station killed eight al Shabab fighters and radio station equipment was seized.
A Mogadishu-based security source told Reuters that US troops, alongside Somali forces, were hunting an al Shabaab commander identified as Abdirahman Mohamed Warsame, also known as Mahad Karate, near the Shabelle river. Another security source told them the raid took place in Darusalam village, where he was supposedly believed to be hiding.
Three al Shabab operatives, including Moalin Osman Abdi Badil, a regional leader of the terror group, was killed, Somali officials said. This was confirmed by Davis, who reportedly said Badil was responsible for gathering information on troops movements in order to support attacks on Somali and African Union forces.
US press releases said the attack took place on both May 4 and May 5, which could be down to the time difference between Somalia and the US.
- Type of strike: Ground operation - Somali-led or joint operation, ambushed before reaching target
- Location: Dar es Salam village, Lower Shabelle region, Somalia
- References, US Department of Defence press release, US Africa Command press release, New York Times, VOA, Fox News, Reuters, CNN, VOA, US Department of Defence press release, Reuters
Xinhua reported Somali security officials and residents claiming over 100 al Shabaab fighters, including 20 commanders, were killed in US air strikes on the morning of April 15.
The strikes were denied by US Africa Command who said the US military had not conducted them.
The strikes were reported by Xinhua to have hit al Shabaab hideouts in Wargaduud and El Adde. There was some confusion around the date they hit - the news site said April 15, but included a quote from an unnamed security official saying the strikes took place on April 14 at 2am.
The security official said 20 commanders and around 85 other fighters were killed. A resident in El Adde was reported saying that the sound of explosions, believed to be air strikes, was heard shortly after midnight on April 14.
The US Africa Command press release said the US military "did not conduct any kind of kinetic action in that area during the timeframe referenced".
The most recent US strike in Somalia took place in January 2017, the press release stated. It added that several social media sites and websites had falsely reported the air strikes, naming Xinhua specifically.
- Type of strike: Possible US strike
- Location: Wargaduud and El-Adde
- References: Xinhua, US Africa Command press release
SOM045C link
24 February 2017
Somali news outlet Mareeg reported a suspected drone strike on an al Shabaab controlled village.
Mareeg reported an eyewitness saying: “We heard several bomb explosion caused by drone airstrikes in Hawina village.” He added: “It is not clear how many people have been killed or wounded it is very difficult to know the real casualties.”
Hawina is reportedly located within several kilometres of Kismayo in southern Lower Juba province.
In an email to the Bureau, US military’s Africa Command (Africom) denied conducting a strike on this day in the area mentioned.
Type of strike: Possible US strike
Location: Hawina village, near Kismayo
References: Mareeg, US Africom via email
The US conducted a “self-defence strike” against al Shabaab on January 7, according to a US Africa Command press release published on January 10.
The strike was conducted “in coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia, Somali partner forces, African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) forces and U.S. advisors” after al Shabaab fighters reportedly threatened their safety.
The press release referred to al Shabaab as an “al Qaeda-associated terrorist group”. Al Shabaab is now considered to be an “associated force” of al Qaeda which gives the US military more leeway to target the group.
- Type of strike: US air or drone strike
- Location: Gaduud
- References: US Africa Command press release
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