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American military intervention in Somalia | |||||||
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Part of War on Terror Operation Enduring Freedom – Horn of Africa during the Somali Civil War | |||||||
MQ-9 Reaper drone, commonly used over Somalia by U.S. forces. | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
In support of: AMISOM (until 2022)
| al-Shabaab Hizbul Islam (until 2009–10; 2012–14) Islamic State in Somalia | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Joe Biden (2021–present) Contents
| Ahmad Umar Sheikh Abdul Qadir Mumin (ISS deputy) | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
600 personnel (Sept. 2020) [9] | Al-Shabaab: 7,000–9,000 fighters (Dec 2017) [10] | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
3 service members killed [11] [12] 2 contractors killed [13] 1 CIA paramilitary officer killed 5 wounded [14] [15] [16] 5 aircraft destroyed 1 aircraft damaged 2 Oshkosh M-ATV several fuel tanker destroyed [13] [17] | 575+ killed (2017–18) [18] [19] 116 militants killed (2019) (per AFRICOM) 1,372–1,670 militants killed (per New America) [20] [21] 1,185–1,313 militants killed (per The Bureau of Investigative Journalism) | ||||||
34–113 civilians killed (per New America) [22] 12–97 civilians killed (per The Bureau of Investigative Journalism) [23] 22 Galmudug soldiers mistakenly killed 78–153 civilians killed (per Airwars) [24] |
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 1980s, however following the September 11th attacks, military action was justified as counterterrorism. The Obama administration and the Trump administration conducted drone and fighter aircraft strikes, advisory missions, 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.
Robert Moore, a public policy advisor, has outlined various justifications for US intervention in Somalia, including the 2001 AUMF which authorizes the President to use force against the perpetrators of the September 11th attacks and their allies (al-Shabbab declared an alliance with al-Qaeda in 2012). Additionally, proponents argue for military intervention for humanitarian purposes, citing the Responsibility to Protect doctrine, suggesting that international intervention could have prevented the Rwandan Genocide in 1994. Moore, however, critiques these justifications. [25]
In late 2020, President Donald Trump announced the withdrawal of most US troops from Somalia by 15 January 2021. [26] The Department of Defense confirmed the completion of troop withdrawal on 17 January 2021. [27] Despite this, the US has continued training allied forces, conducting limited airstrikes, and special operations.
In May 2022, President Joe Biden accepted a Department of Defense request to redeploy US soldiers to Somalia to combat al-Shabaab insurgents, as reported by a government spokesman. [28]
Since 2007, the Department of Defense (United States) has targeted militant groups, mainly al-Shabaab, within Somalia using airstrikes. These have included targeted drone strikes and United States Navy missile strikes. Special forces teams have conducted raids and acted as advisors. Airstrikes targeting the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant increased dramatically under the Trump administration.
US forces conducted four strikes in Somalia during 2007 killing at least 21 people including two civilians.
A U.S. Air Force AC-130 gunship operating under JSOC targeted a suspected al-Qaeda convoy. The strike killed various fighters including Fazul Abdullah Mohammed and the Sudanese explosive expert Abu Talha al Sudani, known as Tariq Abdullah. The convoy had been tracked at night by a MQ-1 Predator drone. An estimated 5–10 militants were killed and 4-5 injured. A joint U.S.–Ethiopian team landed at the strike location shortly after and confirmed at least 8 killed. [29] [30] According to the U.S. Department of Defense, the militants killed in this strike were connected to the 1998 embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania. [31]
Four towns near the southern city of Ras Kamboni were targeted by an AC-130 gunship. The strike targeted a training camp and al-Qaeda associates, and reportedly left 4–31 people killed. The intended target was thought to be Fazul Abdullah Mohammed, the target of a previous airstrike. [32] Another strike was reported near Afmadow in which 22–31 people were reported killed. [33]
At 4:00 a.m., an AC-130 gunship operating from an airbase in eastern Ethiopia attempted to kill Ahmed Madobe in the town of Waldena. Madobe survived the airstrike but was later captured by American and Ethiopian forces who landed by helicopter at 10:00 a.m. [32]
The USS Chafee fired a dozen rounds and possibly one cruise missile at the coast of Bargal, in northern Somalia. The strikes targeted 35 militants that had landed on the coast and had begun to fire on local forces. U.S. officials told The New York Times that U.S. operatives were on the ground, leading to the American warship firing in self-defense. 8–12 militants, including foreign fighters, were killed. [34]
Three cruise missiles were launched by United States at the town of Dhobley in southern Somalia, following reports that the leader of the Ras Kamboni Brigades known as Hassan Turki, and al-Qaeda member Saleh Ali Saleh Nabhan, were in the area. The Department of Defense initially refused to identify the targets of the attack. At the time, Saleh Ali was the subject of a $25 million bounty placed on him by the United States government. The strikes killed four people and wounded 20. Residents said that civilian targets were hit by an AC-130 gunship. [35]
Four cruise missiles launched by a U.S. Navy warship struck a compound in Dhusamareb, in central Somalia. The strike killed senior al-Shabaab leader Aden Hashi Ayro and several other fighters. Reports suggest that an AC-130 was also involved in the operation. The attack purportedly caused al-Shabaab to ban the use of mobile phones by its fighters. [32]
Operation Celestial Balance – After several strikes by warplanes, U.S. commandos launch a helicopter raid near the southern coastal town of Barawa, killing Saleh Ali Saleh Nabhan after his convoy was tracked as it left Mogadishu to attend a meeting between Islamic militants. [32] [36]
During fighting in Dhobley between Somali forces and al-Shabaab militants, an airstrike took place which killed al-Qaeda commander Jabreel Malik Muhammed. This followed an eighteen month long gap in U.S. strikes in the area. [32]
In the first reported lethal drone strike conducted in Somalia, U.S. forces struck a training camp south of Kismayo, which was said to have resulted in the death of senior al-Shabaab leader, Ibrahim al-Afghani. However, Stratfor reported in August that Afghani was still alive and had replaced Ahmed Abdi Godane as the emir of al-Shabaab. Afghani has not appeared in the public since. [32]
Early in the morning, U.S. drones hit three al-Shabaab training camps in Afmadow. [37] The United States did not claim responsibility for the attack. [32]
Three explosions are heard after Kismayo residents reported aircraft flying over the town. Residents report the aircraft having struck at a forested area where militants are believed to have established a training camp. The aircraft are most likely American warplanes. [32]
Series of drone strikes target al-Shabaab militant in Kismayo. [32]
Drone strike targets al-Shabaab militants who were retreating into Dolbiyow Village. The attack killed 4 Somali farmers. [32]
Drone strike against an al-Shabaab base near Tabda village. [32]
US drone attacked on Afmadow. [32]
US and French airstrikes in Kismayo. [32]
Three missiles fired by a drone target and kill the British–Lebanese militant Bilal al-Berjawi known as Abu Hafsa while he is driving in a car outside Mogadishu. [32]
US drone strike targeting a vehicle carrying a senior commander kills 7 militants in Lower Shabelle, including a prominent Moroccan, and a deputy of Bilah al-Berjawi. [38]
US airstrikes reportedly conducted into the town of Qandala. [32]
2 Islamists killed in drone attack including senior al-Shabaab leader Ibrahim Ali Abdi. [32]
US drones and conventional aircraft target al-Shabaab encampments and vehicles. Leader Ahmed Abdi Godane was killed in the strike. [32]
US drone strike kills senior leader of al-Shabaab known as Abdishakur, the group's intelligence chief. [39]
45-60 al-Shabaab members are reported killed in a US drone strike in Lower Shabelle, after explosions rock a training camp, a house, and several armored vehicles. The U.S. denies its involvement in the strikes. It is the most lethal American attack in Somalia against radical Islamists to date. [32]
In a second strike, senior al-Shabaab leader Yusef Dheeq and an associate are killed while riding in a vehicle. [40]
US drones target two al-Shabaab training camps. [32]
Adan Garaar, senior member of al-Shabaab and suspect in the Kenyan Westgate shopping mall attack, is killed in drone strike that destroyed two vehicles. [32]
Drone strikes in Bardera. [32]
US strike targets an al-Shabaab base in southern Somalia. [32]
Either Kenyan or American planes bomb 3 villages in central Hiraan. [32]
Senior al-Shabaab fighter Abdirahman Sandhere (Ukash) was killed in an airstrike. [32]
Al-Shabaab leader Abu Ubaidah killed in drone strike. [32]
US forces conducted 15 airstrikes in Somalia during 2016
A massive U.S. airstrike involving multiple aircraft, manned and unmanned, targeted a training camp near the town of Raso (Buloburde District) killing an estimated 150 al-Shabaab militants. According to U.S. military officials, the American warplanes struck a large gathering of fighters as they were massing in preparation for an attack. [32] [41] [42]
US helicopter assist Somali Special Forces who had attacked an al-Shabaab target in southern Somalia. [43]
US drone strike target 3 al-Shabaab vehicles in southern Somalia. [32]
US airstrikes against al-Shabaab militants. [32]
2 US strikes leave 6 people killed in southern Somalia. [32]
US drone strike in Jilib leaves 8 people dead. [32]
US drone strike attacks an al-Shabaab camp in southern Somalia killing 12 militants. [32]
The United States, alongside Kenyan and Somali forces, conducted a raid in Toratorow. It is reported that helicopters were also used in the raid.
US airstrike kills 5 al-Shabaab members. [32]
Senior al-Shabaab leader Abdullahi Haji Daud killed in drone strike. [32]
Reportedly, US jets struck al-Shabaab targets in the northern autonomous region of Puntland. [32]
3 al-Shabaab members killed in drone strike. [32]
Two militants are killed in drone strike near Gobanale. [32]
Four militants are killed near the town of Tortoroow, in two "self-defense" strikes. [32]
U.S. officials say four al-Shabaab fighters were killed by airstrikes after they attacked a joint U.S.-Somali force near Kismayo. [32]
U.S. aircraft mistakenly target local militia members in the Puntland region, killing at least 22 Galmudug soldiers, as well as some Islamist fighters. The strike led to demonstrations in Galkayo that saw protesters burn the American flag. [32] [44]
US forces conducted 35 airstrikes in Somalia during 2017
Self defense strike against al-Shabaab militants in Gaduud. No fatalities.
A US Navy Seal was killed and three others wounded including a Somali-American interpreter during a raid in Barii. Four to eight al-Shabaab militants were killed in the raid. It would be the first time a US service member died by combat in Somalia since 1993 [45] [11] [46] [47]
Airstrike killed eight al-Shabaab militants 185 miles Southwest of Mogadishu. [48] [49]
Kinetic strike killed one al-Shabaab militant in Lower Shabelle region. [50]
Self defense strike 300 miles Southwest of Mogadishu killed 13 al-Shabaab militants and wounded 10 more. The strike came after a Somali military base was attacked. [51]
Kinetic strike killed one al-Shabaab fighter later identified as Ali Muhammad in Southern Somalia. [52]
US forces conducted two kinetic strikes killing unknown.
Three defense strikes killed seven al-Shabaab militants 200 miles Southwest of Mogadishu. The strikes were called in after US and Somali special forces were fired upon while conducting a counter terrorism operation. Reports stated that seven civilians had been killed by warplanes in Jilib. AFRICOM denied the allegations and called the reports "unreliable". [53] [54] [55]
US and Somali commandoes reportedly killed 10 unarmed civilians including three children and a woman during a raid. The Somali Army admitted to mistakenly killing the civilians. Africa Command denied the casualty allegations stating that only enemy combatants were killed in the raid. [56]
Drone strike near Barawe killed an al-Shabaab and injured one other fighter. [57]
Precision strike killed three al-Shabaab militants in Central Somalia.
Precision strike killed one Al-Shabaab militant.
Three precision airstrikes killed six al-Shabaab militants in Southern Somalia.
Up to 20 ISIS fighters killed by airstrikes in Puntland, Northeastern Somalia. It is believed to have been the first time the US targeted the Islamic State in Somalia.
Several al-Shabaab militants killed by an airstrike in Southern Somalia.
US airstrike killed up to 13 al-Shabaab militants according to Somali official in Lower Shabelle.
One al-Shabaab fighter killed by airstrike near Gaduud.
Several al-Shabaab militants killed by airstrike 60 miles Northwest of Mogadishu.
Airstrikes killed up to 40 militants per United States Africa Command.
Airstrike targeting an al-Shabaab training camp killed over 100 militants 125 miles Northwest of Mogadishu. [58] [59] [60]
One ISIS fighter killed by airstrike in Northeastern Somalia.
Airstrike destroyed a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device 65 kilometers Southwest of Mogadishu.
Airstrike killed eight al-Shabaab fighters and destroyed one vehicle 30 miles Northwest of Mogadishu.
Airstrike in Southern Somalia killed 13 al-Shabaab militants.
Airstrike killed four al-Shabaab militants and destroyed one vehicle-borne improvised explosive device, 25 kilometers west of Mogadishu. [18]
US forces conducted 47 airstrikes in Somalia during 2018, killing between 326 and 338 people [61] [62]
Airstrike killed two al-Shabaab militants and destroyed one vehicle-borne explosive 50 kilometers West of Mogadishu.
Airstrike killed four al-Shabaab militants 50 kilometers Northwest of Kismayo.
Airstrike killed three al-Shabaab militants in Jilib.
Airstrike killed five al-Shabaab militants in Jamaame.
Airstrike killed two al-Shabaab militants and wounded one in Jilib.
Airstrike in Jamecco killed 12 al-Shabaab militants and injured 15.
Airstrike against al-Shabaab militants killed two, wounded three, and destroyed one vehicle in near Mubaarak.
Airstrike near El Burr killed four al-Shabaab militants and two civilians. It would be the first time the US Military would acknowledge civilians deaths in Somalia. [63] [64] [65]
Airstrike near jilib killed three al-Shabaab militants and destroyed one vehicle.
Airstrike destroyed an al-Shabaab vehicle-borne explosive device near Jana Cabdalle.
Airstrike killed 10 al-Shabaab militants 15 miles Southwest of Mogadishu.
Airstrike killed 12 al-Shabaab militants 30 miles Southeast of Mogadishu.
Airstrike killed 27 al-Shabaab militants 26 miles Southwest of Bosasso.
One US soldier killed, four wounded and one partner force wounded in al-Shabaab mortar attack in Jubaland. [12] [66] [67] [68] [69]
Four al-Shabaab militants killed by airstrike 74 miles Northwest of Mogadishu.
Airstrike killed two al-Shabaab militants 46 kilometers Northeast of Kismayo.
Three al-Shabaab militants killed by airstrike 40 kilometers Southwest of Mogadishu.
Two al-Shabaab militants killed and one wounded by airstrike in Mubaraak.
Airstrike killed 18 al-Shabaab militants 50 kilometers Northwest of Kismayo.
Nine al-Shabaab militants killed and one wounded by airstrike 40 kilometers Northwest of Kismayo.
Airstrike kills one al-Shabaab militant in Kunyo Barrow.
Airstrike in Harardere killed around 60 al-Shabaab militants. It was the largest strike in Somalia since November 2017. [70] [71] [72]
Self-defense strike killed four al-Shabaab militants in Araara.
Airstrike killed two al-Shabaab militants and wounded one in Kunyo Barrow.
Self-defense strike killed four al-Shabaab militants in Araara.
Two airstrikes killed 37 al-Shabaab militants and destroy one training camp in Debatscile [73] [74] These strikes put the number of US airstrikes in Somalia to 31 during the year 2018.
Airstrike in Quy Cad killed seven al-Shabaab militants.
Airstrike in Harardhere killed six al-Shabaab militants. [75] A second strike would destroy an al-Shabaab weapons cache in Harardhere.
Airstrike in Debatscile (Hobyo District) killed three al-Shabaab militants.
Airstrike killed nine al-Shabaab militants near Lebede (Burhakaba District).
Self-defense strike killed four al-Shabaab militants in Awdheegle.
Self-defense strike killed four al-Shabaab militants in Basra.
Four airstrikes in Gondershe targeting camp and vehicles killed 34 al-Shabaab militants. [76] [77] [78] [79]
Two airstrikes in Gandarshe kill 28 al-Shabaab militants. [80] [81] [82]
Two airstrikes in Beled Amin killed 11 al-Shabaab militants. [83] [19]
US forces have conducted a record of more than 60 airstrikes in Somalia during 2019, killing 913–1,011 al-Shabaab militants [84]
Airstrike killed 10 al-Shabaab militants in Dheerow Sanle (Dinsoor District).
Two self-defense strikes killed four al-Shabaab militants in Baqdaad. [85] [86]
Airstrike killed six al-Shabaab militants and destroyed one vehicle in Yaaq Braawe, Bay Region.
Airstrike targeted a large group of al-Shabaab fighters attacking Somali National Army troops near Jilib killing 52 militants. [87] [88] [89] [90] [91] [92]
Two airstrikes were conducted in Jilib with at least one al-Shabaab militant killed. Africa Command also announced that it would no longer release casualty details from its operations with journalist and news agency's having to refer to the Somali Government for casualty details. They would later undo the decision. [93] [94]
Airstrike on an al-Shabaab encampment in the vicinity of Shebeeley in the Hiran Region killed 24 militants. [95]
Airstrike in the village of Gandarshe in the Lower Shebelle Region killed 13 al-Shabaab militants. [96]
Airstrike in the vicinity of Gandarshe in the Lower Shabelle Region killed 11 al-Shabaab militants.
Airstrike in the vicinity of Bariire (Afgooye District) killed four al-Shabaab militants. [97] [98] [99] [100]
Airstrike in Kobon near Kismayo killed eight al-Shabaab militants. [101]
Two airstrikes in Janaale, Lower Shabelle Region killed 12 al-Shabaab militants. The first strike killed eight while the second killed four. The strikes were executed as Somali forces were conducting an operation in the region an AFRICOM press release stated. Al-Shabaab claimed that the strikes hit civilian homes but did not give a casualty number. [102] [103]
US forces conducted four airstrikes, two were conducted in Qunyo Barrow (Jilib District) and two were conducted in Awdheegle and near Janalle. The strikes targeted al-Shabaab facilities and checkpoints and killed two militants according to an AFRICOM press release. Al-Shabaab claimed that one of the strikes killed a 20-day-old baby and his father. [104] [105]
Airstrike targeted al-Shabaab militants 23 miles East of Beledweyne in the Hiran Region. The strike killed 35 militants who were "transitioning between locations" according to an AFRICOM press release. [106] [107] [108] [109] [110]
Airstrike near Shebeeley in the Hiran Region killed 20 al-Shabaab militants. [111]
Airstrike in the Hiran Region killed 26 al-Shabaab militants bringing the number of airstrikes in Somalia conducted by US forces during 2019 to 24. [112] [113] [114] [115]
Somali soldiers and US advisors were fired upon in Darasalam, Qoriyoley District, a self-defense strike in response would kill eight al-Shabaab militants. No US or Somali soldiers were harmed. [61]
Airstrike in Huley, Burhakaba District, killed two al-Shabaab militants. [116]
Self-Defence strike in support of Somali National Security Forces in Malayle, Lower Juba Region, killed three al-Shabaab militants according to an AFRICOM press release. [117] [118]
Airstrike managed to kill Abdulhakim Dhuqub, a high ranking ISIS-Somalia official, near Xiriiro, Iskushuban District. [119]
A militant that AFRICOM believed to play a valuable role in the Islamic State in Somalia group was killed during an airstrike in the Golis Mountains of Puntland. [120]
Airstrike in the vicinity of Qunyo Barrow, Jilib District, killing one terrorist. [121]
Airstrike killed nine suspected militants and injured another, after al-Shabaab attacked Somali government forces about 40 kilometers northeast of Kismayo in Lower Juba Province. [122]
Airstrike near Qunyo Barrow, Jilib District, killing one terrorist. [122]
Airstrike targeted Islamic militants near Ameyra, south of Bosaso, which killed three of their leaders. [123]
Airstrike near Qunyo Barrow, Jilib District killing one terrorist. [124]
Airstrike in Dujuuma, Bu'ale District, killing one terrorist.
Airstrikes, in the villages of Qunyo Barrow (Jilib District) and Aliyow Barrow (Balcad district), killed four al-Shabaab militants and destroyed two vehicles, following the Mogadishu bombing. [125]
As of April 2020, US forces have conducted 32 airstrikes in Somalia. [126]
A U.S. airstrike killed Bashir Mohamed Mahamoud, also known by the alias Bashir Qorgab, who was a military commander of al-Shabaab on 22 February in Saakow, Middle Juba region. [127] The Rewards for Justice used to offer a $5 million reward for information that brings him to justice since 2008. [128]
Another airstrike killed an employee of the telecoms Hormuud Telecom. It was aimed at al-Shabaab in Jilib, Middle Juba. [129]
A press release from the U.S. Africa Command indicates that an airstrike was carried out near Janaale that killed five terrorists without any civilian casualties. However, a news outlet spoke with residents of Janaale who indicated that a 13-year-old boy and an elderly disabled man were killed on the attack, wherein a missile struck a mini-bus. A member of the Somali Parliament, Mahad Dore, confirmed the attack and that civilians were killed. [130] After Amnesty International accused the US military of providing no accountability for civilian victims of airstrikes, Africom's commander announced on March 31 that quarterly reports detailing civilian death allegations would be included in the future, along with investigation progress of those claims. An Airwars spokesperson responded by saying that militaries conduct post-strike investigations from the air with few ground assessments. [126]
A U.S. airstrike killed three extremists including a senior leader, Yusuf Jiis, near Bush Madina in the Bay region on 2 April. [131] Another airstrike killed five al-Shabab members near Jilib on 6 April. [132]
Somalian authorities mentioned that a U.S. drone strike killed a high-ranking member of al-Shabab, Abdel Kader Othman, [133] near the southwestern town of Kurtunwarey (Kurtunwarey District). [134]
A U.S. Military advisor was injured and three Somali special forces personal were killed during an al-Shabab vehicle-borne and mortar attack on a U.S. and Somali partner force in the vicinity of Jana Cabdalle (Afmadow District) on September 7. [135] [136]
President Donald Trump ordered the Department of Defense to remove the majority of the 700 U.S. military troops in Somalia from the country in December 2020. [137]
U.S. Africa Command affirms that the United States has completed its troop withdrawal from Somalia. [138]
Airstrikes in Jamaame and Deb Scinnele (Wanlaweyn District) killed three al-Shabaab militants. [139]
The U.S. carried out its first airstrike in Somalia under the Biden administration against al-Shabaab militants near Galkayo. [140]
The U.S. military conducted an airstrike against al-Shabaab militants near Galmudug. [141]
The U.S. military conducted an airstrike in the vicinity of Qeycad (Harardhere District) targeted al-Shabaab militants who were engaging members of the Danab. [142]
U.S. Africa Command conducted an airstrike against al-Shabaab fighters engaged in active combat with Somali forces. [143]
U.S. Africa Command conducted an airstrike against al-Shabaab terrorists after they attacked Somali forces in a remote location near Duduble (Wanlaweyn District) on February 22. [1]
President Biden approved Pentagon's request to redeploy US Troops in Somalia. The official said that "under 500" troops will be sent back to the country. [144]
U.S. Africa Command conducted an airstrike against al-Shabaab terrorists, killing two, after they "attacked partner forces in a remote location near Libikus, Somalia". [145]
U.S. Africa Command conducted an airstrike against al-Shabaab terrorists who "attacked Somali National Army Forces near Beledweyne, Somalia". [146] [147]
U.S. Africa Command conducted an airstrike against al-Shabaab terrorists near Teedaan, Somalia to support Somali troops carrying out military operations against al-Shabaab in Hiran region, killing 13 al-Shabaab fighters. [148] [147] [149] It was soon afterwards reported that the Somali National Army successfully captured al-Shabaab's biggest base, which was located in the region. [150] [151]
Airstrike near Buulobarde kills 27 al-Shabaab terrorists attacking Somali National Army forces. [152] The defensive strikes allowed the Somali National Army and African Union Transition Mission in Somalia forces to regain the initiative and continue the operation to disrupt al-Shabaab in the Hiraan region of central Somalia. [152] This operation against al-Shabaab is reported to be the largest combined Somali and ATMIS offensive operation in five years. [152]
U.S. drone strike near the coastal town of Haramka, located near Jilib. [153] Strike kills senior al-Shabaab leader Abdullah Yare. [154] Prior to his death, Yare had a $3 million bounty. [154] At the time of his death, he was also in line to succeed ailing al-Shabaab leader Ahmed Diriye. [155]
U.S. airstrike kills two al-Shabaab jihadis in Buloburde, Hiran, according to the United States Africa Command; they were attacking Somali soldiers. [156]
A U.S. military raid in northern Somalia killed senior Islamic State member Bilal al-Sudani and ten other insurgents. No U.S. military casualties were reported in the operation, which was ordered by U.S. President Joe Biden. [157]
According to the US Africa Command, 12 al-Shabaab members were killed 472 kilometers northeast of Mogadishu. No civilian deaths or wounds were reported in the conflict. Last year the Pentagon asked Biden to depart US troops to Somalia for fighting against the al-Shabaab terrorist group. With Biden's approval, US troops appeared in the region. [158]
Two US Navy sailors were reported missing while conducting operations off the coast of Somalia. [159]
A military strike killed at least 20 al-Shabab militants in central Somalia. [160]
By August 2022, Airwars estimated that 78-153 civilians were killed by US airstrikes in Somalia since 2007, including 20-23 children, 12-13 women, and 79 named victims. The US has acknowledged only 5 civilian deaths in Somalia. American strikes also injured 34-49 civilians. [24]
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Aden Hashi Farah Aero was the military commander of the Al Shabaab. He was from the Ayr sub-clan, part of the Habar Gidir, which is a branch of the Hawiye clan. He was reportedly married to Halima Abdi Issa Yusuf. He was among several militants killed in a U.S. airstrike on 1 May 2008.
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 alliegence to al-Qaeda during 2012.
This is a 2011 timeline of events in the Somali Civil War (2009–present).
This is a 2012 timeline of events in the Somali Civil War (2009–present).
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).
This article contains a timeline of events for the Somali jihadist group al-Shabaab.
The Islamic State – Somalia Province or Abnaa ul-Calipha is an Islamic State–affiliated group that primarily operates in the mountainous areas of Puntland, and which has also claimed responsibility for several terrorist attacks throughout the rest of Somalia. Led by Sheikh Abdul Qadir Mumin, the group is estimated to have up to 300 active fighters. Since its formation, ISS probably managed to take control of a small, sparsely populated territory in northern Somalia's mountainous hinterland, though it was not acknowledged as official province ("Wilayat") by IS's central leadership until December 2017. Since then, it has sometimes been called Somalia Province by pro-IS media. ISS is also the declared enemy of al-Shabaab, which considers the Islamic State a significant threat to its own predominance among Jihadist factions in Somalia.
This is a 2016 timeline of events in the Somali Civil War (2009–present).
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This is a 2018 timeline of events in the Somali Civil War (2009–present).
On November 21, 2017 at 10:30 a.m. East Africa Time the United States Military conducted an airstrike on an Al-Shabaab training camp 125 miles Northwest of the Somali capital Mogadishu in the Bay Region by a crewed aircraft.
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.
The Camp Simba attack was a pre-dawn attack at Magagoni Airfield near Camp Simba on 5 January 2020. The camp is used by Kenyan and U.S. troops and is located near Manda Bay on the mainland of Lamu County, Kenya. The perpetrators were al-Shabaab, a Somalia-based Islamic extremist insurgent group. Approximately 30-40 al-Shabaab militants assaulted Camp Simba, which was home to around 100 US personnel along with an undisclosed number of Kenyan troops. It was the first al-Shabaab targeting of US military personnel in Kenya.
Events in the year 2019 in Somalia.
Events in the year 2024 in Somalia.
This is a 2024 timeline of events in the Somali Civil War (2009–present).