Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International released a damning new report accusing U.S. military forces of killing at least 14 civilians and injuring eight others in Somalia over the past two years.
The Amnesty International investigation allege that at least 14 civilians were killed as a result of U.S. airstrikes targeting the Al-Qaeda affiliated, Al-Shabaab insurgents. U.S. military forces have increased airstrikes in Somalia under the Trump administration.
The investigation, entitled The Hidden War in Somalia, the rights watch body say it collected evidence from 150 in-person from outside Al-Shabaab controlled territory — including with eyewitnesses, relatives of victims and experts within the U.S. military — and also analyzed satellite imagery as part of its investigation.
AFRICOM reiterated of its commitment in defending the people of Somalia against terrorism noting airstrikes as one component aimed at securing the region. The statement highlighted that through increased, intelligence-led air campaigns, Al-Shabaab continue to be degraded and their plans to conduct attacks disrupted.
In response to the report, AFRICOM issued a press release and acknowledged reports of civilian casualties, and claimed it would “review any information it has about the incident, including relevant information provided by third parties.”
