23 civilians included 14 children and 5 women killed over 17 injured included 11 children and 2 women injured
On 18 March 2024, Turkish Drone Bayraktar strikes hit the Jaffey farm (Somali: Beerta Jaffey), about three kilometers west of Bagdad village in the Lower Shabelle region of Somalia, between 8 pm and 8.30 pm.[1][2][3] The TB2 killed 23 civilians including 14 children, five women, and four men. Another 17 civilians were injured in the strikes: 11 children, two women and four men. All victims from the marginalized Gorgaarte clan.[4]
Two strikes that killed 23 civilians during Somali military operations supported by Turkish drones is investigated as war crimes,[5] according to Amnesty International.[a]
The Victims and other residents confirmed the drone strikes followed heavy ground fighting that started earlier that day between the armed group Al-Shabaab and Somali Armed Forces close to the villages of Jambalul and Bagdad.[6][7]
Background
The federal government of Somalia has initiated a significant military offensive against the al-Qaeda-affiliated jihadist group, al-Shabab, which holds control over extensive territories in southern and central Somalia. This offensive is led by the highly trained Danab Brigade, which has received specialized training from the United States.[8] the operation is receiving air support from both American and Turkish forces, indicating a concerted effort by international allies to combat the threat posed by al-Shabab in Somalia.[8]
On March 18, 2024, Amnesty International conducted an interview with an eyewitness who reported the presence of Al-Shabaab fighters in Bagdad during clashes.[6] According to the witness, an initial drone strike targeted a mosque on the eastern side of Bagdad around 7:30 pm, resulting in the destruction of the building and damage to nearby houses.[10]
Following the initial attack, numerous civilians sought refuge at the Jaffey farm for safety. However, eyewitnesses reported that the first strike on the farm resulted in casualties, with civilians being killed and injured. Subsequently, approximately 30 minutes later, a second attack occurred, causing further harm to both those seeking refuge at the farm and civilians from neighboring villages, Alifow and Gaalgube, who had arrived to assist survivors of the initial strike.
On 19 March, Somalia’s Ministry of Information issued a statement on Facebook saying that they had killed over 30 Al-Shabaab militants in the villages of Bagdad and Baldooska in coordination with “international partners”.[11] The statement added:
The operation was launched in response to intelligence reports indicating that Al-Shabaab fighters were gathering in these areas and planning an assault against the Somali people… 15 Al-Shabaab members were killed in an airstrike in Bagdad
—SNTV
It is unclear whether Turkish or Somali forces were in control of the TB-2 drone at the time of the strikes on the Jaffey farm. One source in the Somali government confirmed that members of the National Intelligence and Security Agency fly the TB-2s during combat operations against Al-Shabaab. However, in 2022, the UN Panel of Experts for Somalia reported Turkey violated international sanctions on Somalia by supplying armed drones without notification to and approval of the UN.[12]
According to the Turkish government, Türkiye did not transfer the drones to Somalia in violation of the UN arms embargo, but rather operated the drones themselves “in the fight against terrorism”. Also in 2022, Ahmed Moalim Fiqi, Somalia’s then Interior Minister who is now Foreign Minister, was confirmed reports that the armed drones produced by Turkish company Baykar while Turkish forces operate the drones, Somali commanders provide the targets.[13]
Turkey has been supporting Somali federal government by providing military equipment and assistance. Satellite imagery and videos verified by Amnesty International’s Crisis Evidence Lab reveal Turkish TB-2 drones at Mogadishu International Airport since at least September 12, 2022. Additionally, Turkey has been training the "Gorgor" unit of the Somali armed forces at Camp Turksom in Mogadishu. In February 2024, the two countries further solidified their partnership by signing a Defense and Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement.
Casualties
The strikes resulted in the deaths of 23 civilians, including 14 children, five women, and four men. Additionally, 17 civilians were injured, consisting of 11 children, two women, and four men. All of the casualties belonged to the marginalized Gorgaarte clan.[14]
They followed heavy ground fighting earlier that day between Al-Shabaab and Somali security forces near the villages of Jambaluul and Bagdad.[15]
Aftermath
On 5 April 2024, Amnesty International contacted AFRICOM, inquiring about the potential involvement of US forces in the operation against Al-Shabaab on March 18. However, AFRICOM did not provide a response by the time of publication.
Amnesty International sent a letter to the governments of Somalia and Turkey on April 5, 2024 for requesting details about the March 18 operation, including information about which military forces were operating the drone during the strikes. As of now, neither government has responded to the inquiry.[4]
Notes
↑ This article mostly sourced from Amnesty International
Related Research Articles
The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) was a Multinational force formed by the African Union. The operation deployed to Somalia soon after the Islamic Courts Union was deposed by troops from Ethiopia during a large scale invasion in late 2006. The missions primary objective was to maintain the regime change between the ICU and the newly installed Transitional Federal Government, implement a national security plan and train the TFG security forces. As part of its duties, AMISOM later supported the Federal Government of Somalia in its war against Al-Shabaab. AMISOM was the most deadly peacekeeping operation in the post-war era.
Operation Enduring Freedom – Horn of Africa (OEF-HOA) is a component of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF). The Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) is the primary military component assigned to accomplish the objectives of the mission. The naval components are the multinational Combined Task Force 150 (CTF-150) and Combined Task Force 151 (CTF-151) which operates under the direction of the United States Fifth Fleet. Both of these organizations have been historically part of United States Central Command. In February 2007, United States President George W. Bush announced the establishment of the United States Africa Command which took over all of the area of operations of CJTF-HOA in October 2008.
The Somali Civil War (2009–present) is the ongoing phase of the Somali Civil War which is concentrated in southern and central Somalia. It began in late January 2009 with the present conflict mainly between the forces of the Federal Government of Somalia assisted by African Union peacekeeping troops and al-Shabaab militants who pledged allegiance to al-Qaeda during 2012.
A series of battles in Hiraan, Shabeellaha Dhexe and Galgudug, between rebels of al-Shabaab and Hizbul Islam and Somali government forces and ICU militants loyal to the government, erupted during spring 2009. The fighting led to al-Shabaab capturing major government strongholds and Ethiopian forces re-entering Somalia and setting up bases in Hiraan. There was a halt in fighting during a government offensive in Mogadishu, which started on May 22.
This is a 2011 timeline of events in the Somali Civil War (2009–present).
Operation Linda Nchi was the Kenya Defence Forces' invasion of southern Somalia beginning in 2011. The Kenyan government declared the operation completed in March 2012, but its forces then joined AMISOM in Somalia.
This is a 2014 timeline of events in the Somali Civil War (2009–present).
Operation Indian Ocean was a joint military operation between the Somali military, AMISOM and the United States military against the Al-Shabaab militant group aimed at eliminating the remaining insurgent-held areas in southern Somalia. It officially began in August 2014.
This is a 2015 timeline of events in the Somali Civil War (2009–present).
The battle of Janale took place on September 1st 2015, when Al-Shabaab militants stormed an African Union military camp manned by Ugandan forces in the town of Janale, Lower Shabelle.
The Golweyn ambush by al-Shabaab militants against an AMISOM convoy took place on 30 July 2017. Resulting in the death of several Ugandan soldiers, the attack seriously disrupted the control of pro-government forces over the Lower Shebelle region in Somalia, eventually leading to the fall of the strategically significant town of Leego to al-Shabaab.
This is a 2016 timeline of events in the Somali Civil War (2009–present).
Since the early 2000s, the United States has provided military support to the Transitional Federal Government and the Federal Government of Somalia in conflicts. U.S. military actions in Somalia date back to the 1990s; however, following the September 11th attacks, military action was justified as counterterrorism. The Obama and Trump administrations conducted drone and fighter aircraft strikes, advisory missions, and training; provided intelligence; and attacked al-Shabaab militants. Two U.S. special operations personnel, two contractors, one US Army soldier, and a CIA paramilitary officer have died during operations in Somalia.
On December 15 and 16, 2018, the United States Military in coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia conducted six airstrikes in the coastal town of Gandarshe on Al-Shabaab militants who were suspected to have been preparing an attack on a Somali military base in the Lower Shabelle region. Four of the airstrikes were conducted on December 15, killing 34, while two more were conducted on the 16th killing 28, bringing the total to 62 people killed – all said to have been militants with no civilians reportedly killed or injured according to United States Africa Command. The town of Gandarshe located 30 miles Southwest of the Somali capital Mogadishu had long been a launching point for attacks by Al-Shabaab including car bombings. The operation brings the number of airstrikes in Somalia to at least 46 by the United States during 2018.
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Events in the year 2021 in Somalia.
Events in the year 2023 in Somalia.
Events in the year 2024 in Somalia.
This is a 2024 timeline of events in the Somali Civil War (2009–present).
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Turkish Bayraktar, assigned to TB2, Turkish Air Force 
