‘They didn’t know or care, or wouldn’t say’: how we investigated the casualties of a covert US war
The Guardian details an investigation into a US drone strike in Somalia that killed 12 civilians, including eight children. The report highlights the challenges of documenting casualties in covert military campaigns and the lack of transparency from armed forces.
Why it matters
This investigation underscores the critical role of investigative journalism in holding military powers accountable for civilian casualties in underreported conflicts.
The US military’s special operations control centre in Mogadishu, Somalia, where they oversee operations and drone activities against al-Shabaab. Photograph: Jonathan Torgovnik/Getty Images View image in fullscreen The US military’s special operations control centre in Mogadishu, Somalia, where they oversee operations and drone activities against al-Shabaab. Photograph: Jonathan Torgovnik/Getty Images Inside the Guardian Press freedom ‘They didn’t know or care, or wouldn’t say’: how we investigated the casualties of a covert US war When a large number of children were killed during a US drone strike in Somalia last year, two reporters collaborated to piece together what happened
The Guardian frequently focuses on human rights and accountability, often taking a critical stance on Western military operations.
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