Airstrike leaves 21 civilians dead in Somalia

AFGOYE, Somalia - At least 40 people were killed in southern Somalia on Monday, authorities revealed, in what the government insists was an operation against the Al-Shabaab militants who control large swathes of rural central and southern regions.

In a statement, the government said the 40 individuals who were killed were Al-Shabaab militants and were under surveillance from security teams.

The operation was carried out by the national army with assistance from members of the international community, a term used to refer to foreign troops.

Sources indicate the airstrike was carried out in the vicinity of Baldooska and Baghdad villages, approximately 30 kilometers north of Mogadishu. The statement did not specify when the operation took place, but local sources said it occurred Monday evening.

Government troops received news about the mobilization of Al-Shabaab militants before unleashing the operation. The militants were waging an attack against Al-Shabaab, the statement read, quoting locals who witnessed the incident.

However, several individuals from the region insist the airstrike targeted innocent civilians within the region, killing 21 of them.

Al-Shabab-affiliated media also reported on the strikes. One al-Shabab website claimed the strike in Baghdad village killed 18 civilians, including seven children. Al-Shabab media also published purported pictures of the dead allegedly killed in the strike. Garowe Online could not independently verify claims about casualties by the two sides.

Abdirahman Yusuf Adala, the deputy minister of information, said the government is auditing the impact of the airstrike, and whether the airstrike killed civilians. The international partners usually carry out due diligence before waging a drone strike.

The US Africa Command said it did not carry out the airstrike near Afgoye town. Turkish military until today has not confirmed or denied involvement in the incident.

The two countries which have troops on the ground help the Somali Government in the fight against Al-Shabaab and use drones in their airstrikes against Al-Shabaab.

GAROWE ONLINE