US steps up Somalia airstrikes as families of civilian victims seek answers

Al Jazeera told the stories of families in southern Somalia affected by US airstrikes, which have multiplied under Trump. US Africa Command acknowledges the strikes but does not link civilian deaths to them.

Al Jazeera has published testimony from families in southern Somalia who lost relatives or whose members were wounded in areas hit by US airstrikes. Residents say they have received neither explanations nor help.

US strikes on militants in Somalia have risen sharply under Donald Trump: US Africa Command (AFRICOM) recorded 84 through the end of September 2026, and Airwars estimates the pace at about four times that under Joe Biden. In early 2025 the strikes focused on the local ISIS affiliate in the north; in 2026 they shifted south to al-Shabab's area of operations.

Testimony from Jamaame

A US Air Force MQ-9 Reaper drone (illustrative, file)

After strikes on Nov. 14 and 15, 2025, in the Jamaame area, a UNHCR-led monitoring network reported 12 civilians killed and 22,800 displaced. Farmer Ali Aden Borrow said his wife, nine months pregnant, died along with their baby, while three of Maryam Haji Abdi Guled's six children were wounded. Jubaland authorities said 56 al-Shabab fighters were killed and 20 captured; Al Jazeera could not verify those figures.

AFRICOM acknowledged the strikes but concluded the evidence did not allow it to hold the US responsible for civilian deaths.

Mogadishu's stance

Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud welcomed the expanded US support. Somali security official Ahmed Suleiman Hussein acknowledged, however, that civilian harm fuels grievances exploited by al-Shabab and ISIS, and the country has adopted a national civilian protection policy.