US air operations killed or wounded at least 216 civilians in Somalia
An investigation by Arab Reporters for Investigative Journalism found that at least 216 civilians were killed or wounded by U.S. air operations in Somalia between 2007 and 2025. The report, which also covered Syria, Iraq, and Yemen, highlights concerns regarding civilian protection policies and strike authorization.
Why it matters
The findings raise significant ethical and legal questions regarding the impact of U.S. military operations on civilian populations in conflict zones.
MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – At least 216 civilians in Somalia were recorded as killed or injured by U.S. air operations between 2007 and May 2025, according to an investigation supported by Arab Reporters for Investigative Journalism (ARIJ).
The investigation described the figure as the minimum number of civilian casualties its researchers were able to document in the incidents reviewed. It does not mean the United States has confirmed each casualty.
The investigation covered Somalia, Syria, Iraq and Yemen. Syria recorded the highest toll, with 1,336 people killed or wounded, followed by Yemen with 991, Iraq with 793 and Somalia with 216, for a combined total of at least 3,336. Somalia’s share is the smallest, about 6.5 percent of the total.
Investigators analyzed 884 air operations across the four countries, excluding disputed or unclassifiable incidents and using the lowest documented casualty estimates. The Somalia total is therefore a floor, not a ceiling.
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