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US-Backed Offensive Allegedly Killed 11 Civilians in Somalia
U.S.-backed forces launched a mid-November offensive targeting al-Shabaab bases, killing at least 11 civilians including seven children in southern Somalia, local leaders said.
- On November 15, United States Africa Command -backed strikes and Somali government ground troops, including the Danab counterterrorism unit, killed at least 11 civilians, including seven children, after hours of aircraft circling in Jamaame district.
- Part of a wider offensive, forces targeted al-Shabaab bases about 10 miles from Jamaame that started earlier this year amid regional fragmentation driving Puntland, Jubbaland government and federal member states to mount uncoordinated operations.
- A seven-month-old infant, Nurto Mohamed Hassan, died instantly from shrapnel while wrapped on her mother Farhiya Hassan Omar's back; survivors endured a five-hour drive over dunes and flooded roads to reach Jilib hospital about 40 miles north.
- Media reports and social media circulated differing casualty estimates, with some outlets reporting upwards of 50 killed, while AFRICOM and the government of Jubbaland did not respond to requests for comment.
- The operation aims to roll back al-Shabaab and secure strategic footholds as the offensive sought to control parts of Jubbaland, while local clans fear attacks target them to grab land amid a U.S. counterterrorism campaign.
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U.S. Airstrikes, Somali Troops Killed at Least Seven Children in a November Offensive
U.S. airstrikes and Somali government ground troops, including a militia trained by the U.S., killed at least 11 civilians, including seven children—one as young as seven months—during an operation on an al-Shabaab stronghold in southern Somalia last month.Drop Site News spoke to four witnesses of the attack from Jaaame, a major town in the Lower Jubba region, that has been under control of al-Shabaab—an al-Qaeda-affiliated militant group—for de…
Coverage Details
Total News Sources12
Leaning Left4Leaning Right1Center2Last UpdatedBias Distribution57% Left
Bias Distribution
- 57% of the sources lean Left
57% Left
L 57%
C 29%
14%
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