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Amnesty linked five United States Somalia strikes to 14 civilian deaths and eight injuries

Reporting and findings

  1. reported

    Amnesty International said its investigation found that five United States air strikes in Somalia killed 14 civilians and injured eight more.

  2. documented

    The Pentagon announced that Trump approved expanded precision fire support for the African Union and Somali forces against Al-Shabaab in designated areas of Somalia.

  3. reported

    Amnesty assessed 14 civilian deaths and eight injuries across Farah Waeys (October 16, 2017), Darusalaam (November 12), Illimey (December 6), Gobanle (August 2, 2018) and Baladul-Rahma (December 9). It considered US responsibility most plausible at Illimey; AFRICOM denied a matching strike there and disputed civilian casualties in the other four.

Summary and current status

Advocacy-group findings, not formal charges or an adjudicated war-crime judgment.

People and organizations

Relationships in this file

  2. Donald J. Trumpwas commander in chief during strikes in Amnesty's civilian-harm reviewAmnesty International's 2019 Somalia civilian-harm investigation

Figures

  1. Amnesty-assessed Somalia civilian deaths14 people
    Calculation details
    Basis
    Observed
    Population
    Five Lower Shabelle incidents investigated by Amnesty; source-assessed US attribution and civilian classification
    Period
    2017-10-16 to 2018-12-09
    Method
    Amnesty's five-event aggregate; 65 witness/survivor interviews, imagery and corroboration. Distinct dates exclude El Burr April 2018 and official 2019–20 cases. No component counts are also added.
    Uncertainty
    US attribution at Illimey was assessed most plausible, not confirmed; AFRICOM disputed attribution there and civilian harm elsewhere. These remain attributed NGO findings.
  2. Amnesty-assessed Somalia incidents5 incidents
    Calculation details
    Basis
    Observed
    Population
    Five Lower Shabelle incidents investigated by Amnesty; source-assessed US attribution and civilian classification
    Period
    2017-10-16 to 2018-12-09
    Method
    Amnesty's five-event aggregate; 65 witness/survivor interviews, imagery and corroboration. Distinct dates exclude El Burr April 2018 and official 2019–20 cases. No component counts are also added.
    Uncertainty
    US attribution at Illimey was assessed most plausible, not confirmed; AFRICOM disputed attribution there and civilian harm elsewhere. These remain attributed NGO findings.
  3. Amnesty-assessed Somalia civilian injuries8 people
    Calculation details
    Basis
    Observed
    Population
    Five Lower Shabelle incidents investigated by Amnesty; source-assessed US attribution and civilian classification
    Period
    2017-10-16 to 2018-12-09
    Method
    Amnesty's five-event aggregate; 65 witness/survivor interviews, imagery and corroboration. Distinct dates exclude El Burr April 2018 and official 2019–20 cases. No component counts are also added.
    Uncertainty
    US attribution at Illimey was assessed most plausible, not confirmed; AFRICOM disputed attribution there and civilian harm elsewhere. These remain attributed NGO findings.