Airstrike in Somalia Archives - Kaab TV

New Investigation Examines Civilian Toll of U.S. Airstrikes in Somalia

Staff Reporter — Sat, 03 Oct 2026 08:57:26 +0000

A new investigation by Arab Reporters for Investigative Journalism (ARIJ), using data compiled by Airwars, has documented civilian casualties linked to U.S. and coalition air operations in Somalia, Syria, Iraq and Yemen, highlighting significant differences between independent estimates and figures officially acknowledged by the U.S. military.

The investigation examined 884 air operations carried out by the United States and its coalition partners across the four countries between 2007 and the end of May 2025.

According to ARIJ, the documented incidents resulted in at least 3,336 civilian deaths and injuries.

The figures represent casualties that researchers were able to document and do not necessarily cover every incident that occurred.

Somalia accounted for at least 216 civilian deaths and injuries in the ARIJ database. The investigation described this as the minimum number of civilian casualties that researchers were able to document in the incidents reviewed.

It did not claim that the figure represents the total civilian toll from U.S. air operations in Somalia.

Across the four countries, Syria recorded the highest number of documented civilian casualties, with 1,336 people killed or injured, followed by Yemen with 991 and Iraq with 793. Somalia accounted for 216 casualties.

Airwars, which has independently tracked civilian-harm allegations involving U.S. military operations in Somalia for years, has produced a separate estimate based on individual incidents it has assessed.

The organization estimates that between 85 and 162 civilians were killed in incidents it considers sufficiently substantiated or highly credible, while between 35 and 55 civilians were reportedly injured in those incidents.

Airwars also estimates that between 23 and 26 children and between 12 and 13 women were among the civilians likely killed in U.S. operations in Somalia, based on specific incidents assessed by the organization.

The different figures require careful interpretation. The 216 people cited by ARIJ represents documented civilians killed or injured across incidents included in its investigation, while Airwars separates incidents according to its own levels of confidence and evidence.

The two figures therefore do not measure exactly the same thing and should not be treated as directly interchangeable.

Major gap between independent estimates and U.S. figures

The figures compiled by independent organizations also differ substantially from the number of civilian casualties officially acknowledged by the U.S. military.

Airwars says U.S. forces have officially acknowledged six civilian deaths and 11 civilian injuries resulting from American operations in Somalia.

The organization’s broader estimates are based on information from media reports, witnesses, local sources, social media, victim information and other available evidence.

The U.S. military, through the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM), maintains its own process for investigating allegations of civilian harm. AFRICOM says it reviews such claims using intelligence, operational information, targeting assessments and other information available to the command.

AFRICOM categorizes allegations according to the evidence available to investigators.

Some incidents may be assessed as substantiated, while others may be classified as unsubstantiated when investigators cannot obtain sufficient evidence to confirm that a U.S. strike caused the reported casualties.

An allegation being classified as unsubstantiated does not necessarily establish that no civilian casualties occurred; it means the available evidence was considered insufficient to verify the claim.

AFRICOM has investigated a number of civilian-harm allegations in Somalia, with some claims assessed as unsubstantiated and others determined to have sufficient evidence to establish that civilians were harmed.

Why the figures differ

The gap between Airwars’ figures and official U.S. military assessments is partly linked to the different methodologies used to collect and evaluate information.

Airwars relies heavily on publicly available information, including local and international media reports, eyewitness accounts, social media posts, information concerning victims and other open-source material.

Researchers compare information from different sources and assess individual incidents according to established criteria.

AFRICOM, by contrast, has access to military and intelligence information that is not generally available to independent researchers. Its investigations can include operational records, surveillance information, intelligence assessments and targeting data.

As a result, the two approaches can produce different conclusions about the same incident or about groups of incidents occurring in the same period.

Children among the casualties

The ARIJ investigation also found that children accounted for nearly 42 percent of the civilian casualties documented across the four countries examined.

That percentage applies to the combined dataset covering Somalia, Syria, Iraq and Yemen.

It should not be interpreted as meaning that children represented 42 percent of the 216 civilian casualties documented in Somalia specifically, because the investigation does not establish that breakdown for the Somali figure.

The finding nevertheless highlights the broader challenge of measuring the civilian consequences of air operations, particularly in conflicts where reliable casualty records are difficult to obtain.

U.S. air operations in Somalia

U.S. air operations in Somalia have been documented since 2007 and expanded significantly during subsequent years as Washington increased its military campaign against Al-Shabaab.

The United States says its operations are aimed at Al-Shabaab and are conducted in support of Somalia’s federal government and security forces.

AFRICOM has repeatedly stated that U.S. strikes target members and leaders of the militant group and are carried out in coordination with Somali authorities.

In some cases, AFRICOM has said that strikes were conducted at the request of the Somali federal government.

The United States maintains that its operations are intended to disrupt Al-Shabaab’s ability to conduct attacks and threaten Somali and international interests.

Airwars, however, has documented hundreds of incidents associated with U.S. military operations in Somalia, with particular attention to cases in which there have been allegations of civilian casualties.

Accountability and transparency

The new investigation has renewed debate over how civilian casualties from airstrikes should be independently verified and how governments can ensure adequate protection for people who are not participating in hostilities.

The available data show a clear difference between the number of civilian casualties documented by independent researchers and the smaller number officially acknowledged by the U.S. military.

However, the difference does not by itself establish that either dataset provides a complete account of civilian harm.

ARIJ’s figure of 216 does not mean that all those casualties have been officially confirmed by the U.S. government. Rather, it reflects casualties that researchers were able to document through the incidents examined.

Similarly, Airwars’ estimate of 85 to 162 civilian deaths reflects varying levels of confidence attached to individual cases rather than a definitive count accepted by all parties.

For Somalia, the issue is particularly significant because the United States remains one of the country’s key security partners in the fight against Al-Shabaab.

At the same time, questions surrounding civilian protection, accountability and transparency in air operations remain an important part of the wider debate over the U.S. military role in Somalia.

The findings therefore highlight two parallel realities: Washington continues to view air operations as an important component of its counterterrorism partnership with Somalia, while independent investigations continue to document allegations of civilian harm and call attention to the difficulty of establishing a comprehensive and independently verifiable record of casualties.

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Somalia and International Partners Launch Airstrikes Targeting Al-Shabaab Strongholds in Jubbaland

Staff Reporter — Fri, 29 May 2026 12:18:12 +0000

KISMAYO (Kaab TV) – Reports from the Middle Jubba region of Jubaland indicate that a series of airstrikes targeted areas under the control of the militant group Al-Shabaab near the district of Jilib, as military pressure continues to mount against the group in southern Somalia.

According to local residents and security sources, the strikes took place in rural areas surrounding Jilib, a town widely regarded as one of Al-Shabaab’s main operational and administrative strongholds in the region.

The airstrikes were reportedly carried out through cooperation between the Federal Government of Somalia and international partners supporting Somalia’s counterterrorism operations through aerial surveillance and precision strikes.

Witnesses in nearby communities said loud explosions were heard during the night and early morning hours, while military aircraft were seen flying over the area shortly before the strikes occurred.

So far, Somali authorities have not released an official statement providing full details about the operation, including the number of casualties, the identities of those targeted, or whether civilians were affected.

There has also been no independent confirmation regarding the extent of the damage caused by the strikes.

Jilib has for years remained one of Al-Shabaab’s most important strongholds in southern Somalia, serving as a center for the group’s leadership meetings, training camps, financial operations, and military planning.

Because of its strategic importance, the area has repeatedly been targeted by both Somali government offensives and airstrikes conducted with support from international allies, including the United States and other security partners involved in counterterrorism operations in the Horn of Africa.

Security analysts say Al-Shabaab continues to use remote rural areas in Middle Jubba and Lower Jubba as safe havens to coordinate attacks against Somali government forces, African Union troops, and civilian targets in cities such as Mogadishu and Kismayo.

The latest airstrikes come amid intensified military operations launched by Somali government forces and allied clan militias across central and southern Somalia in an effort to weaken the group’s territorial control and operational capabilities.

Over the past two years, the Somali government has increased cooperation with international partners in conducting intelligence-based airstrikes aimed at eliminating senior Al-Shabaab commanders, disrupting supply routes, and destroying militant hideouts.

Despite ongoing offensives, Al-Shabaab remains capable of carrying out deadly bombings, assassinations, and guerrilla-style attacks across several parts of the country.

Human rights organizations and local community leaders have previously raised concerns over the risk of civilian casualties during aerial operations in densely populated or rural areas, urging authorities to ensure transparency and accountability following military strikes.

The Somali government has consistently defended the operations, saying they are necessary to dismantle Al-Shabaab’s network and improve security in regions long affected by insurgency and instability.

Further details regarding the latest strikes are expected as investigations and damage assessments continue in the affected areas.

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Airstrike in Lower Jubba Region Causes Civilian Deaths and Injuries

Staff Reporter — Sat, 23 May 2026 06:11:32 +0000

KISMAYO (Kaab TV) – Warplanes carried out airstrikes in areas of the Lower Jubba region, particularly in the village of Kanjaroon.

The airstrikes caused civilian casualties, including deaths and injuries, according to Member of Parliament Daahir Amin Jeesow, who spoke to the media.

The MP said the victims included children, women, and elderly people, and called on the Jubbaland administration, the Somali government, and relevant authorities to launch an urgent investigation into the attack and the civilian casualties caused.

Those confirmed killed in the airstrike were Ahmed Salad Hassan, 45; Osman Ahmed Salad, 17; Jecela Ahmed Salad, 14; Hamdi Ahmed Salad, 12; Habibo Osman Mahmoud, 95; Bishaaro Ibrahim Osman, 39; and Cabdow Osman Omar, 36.

Mohamed Ahmed Salad was also injured in the attack, while several children survived, including 10-year-old Fican Ahmed Salad, 8-year-old Ladan Ahmed Salad, 6-year-old Fatuma Ahmed Salad, 4-year-old Aadan Ahmed Salad, and one-year-old Abdirahim Ahmed Salad.

The airstrikes have sparked fear and grief among residents of Kanjaroon and across the Lower Jubba region, with local communities demanding clarity on who carried out the attack and why civilians were targeted.

So far, there has been no official statement from the Jubbaland administration, the Somali government, or security agencies regarding the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Airstrikes carried out by Somalia’s international partners have frequently resulted in civilian casualties, according to local residents and officials.

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U.S. Airstrikes Target Al-Shabaab in Somalia’s Lower Jubba Region

Staff Reporter — Tue, 16 Dec 2025 16:24:32 +0000

Lower Jubba (Kaab TV) – U.S. unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) carried out airstrikes targeting Al-Shabaab on the outskirts of Kismayo city in the Lower Jubba region, which also serves as the interim capital of the Jubbaland State.

The airstrikes were followed by a ground operation conducted by joint forces comprising U.S.-trained Danab commandos and Jubbaland State Dervish forces, according to security sources close to the operation.

Officials from the Federal Government of Somalia’s armed forces, particularly the Danab commandos, stated that the objective of the operation was to target Al-Shabaab members who were present in the area.

The United States often provides details on the outcomes of its operations conducted in parts of southern, central, and northern Somalia. Recently, AFRICOM announced that it has increased operations against Al-Shabaab and ISIS.

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Jamaame Airstrike Kills 12 Civilians, Including Children

Kaab TV News Editor — Mon, 01 Dec 2025 08:02:08 +0000

KISMAYO (Kaab TV) – An airstrike carried out on the 15th of last month in Jamaame district of Lower Juba region resulted in the deaths of 12 people, including children.

Relatives of the victims and footage obtained from the scene show the scale of the destruction caused by the airstrike, which was conducted by aircraft targeting Jamaame district.

The strike hit an area where civilians were present, including a Qur’an school.

Among the dead are up to eight children from the Biyamaal clan, one of the local communities in the area.

A Qur’an school teacher who was among those present when the shell hit was also killed.

Three of the victims were women.

The U.S Africa Command (AFRICOM) claimed responsibility for the airstrike, stating in a press release issued on 17 November 2025 that they had carried out an airstrike northeast of Kismayo city.

AFRICOM did not provide further details regarding casualties.

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