US drone strike killed civilians, a grandmother and 5 of her grandchildren, according to Garowe Online. The incident happened in El-Garas town, close to El-Lahelay, in Galgadud region, last Wednesday. Eyewitnesses said an airstrike from a drone targeted three Al-Shabab fighters traveling on a vehicle.
The US African Command acknowledged being aware of civilian casualties but brushed off the report that US was behind it as an Al-Shabab propaganda. It also denied being involved in the strike. It however said it helped evacuate injured Somali soldiers in the area.
Local official in El-Garas confirmed there were aerial support to Somali army operations in the area. Somalia’s government also acknowledged that children were among the casualties but blamed Al-Shabab for having placed explosives in their home. This assertion contradicts evidence and eyewitnesses accounts.
Since taking office, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has called on the U.S. Africa Command to expand their drone strikes in Somalia and ease its restrictions, despite documented evidence that doing so amounts to a war crime.
Moreover, as the Somali government works to rally the local population against Al-Shabab, unrestricted US drone strikes that indiscriminately kill militants and civilians alike only drive them away.
Amnesty International previously published a report, titled The Hidden US War in Somalia, on this casual use of drones in populated areas that put civilians, especially children, in harm’s way.
In another development in the War on Al-Shabab, as the result of the last few days offensive by government forces and Ma’awisley vigilantes, the government announced it has today taken over El-Garas. The strategic town near El-Lahelay, captured 5 days ago, has been under Al-Shabab occupation for 15 years.
However, after a brief photoshoot in the town with Galmudug President Abdi Karie Qoorqoor, NISA chief Mahad Salad and Defense Minister Abdiqadir Mohamed Nur, it was announced the same day that government forces would withdraw from the city.
Since President Hassan Sheikh moved to Dhusamareeb, in Galgadud region, to oversee the end of the “First phase” of the offensive against Al-Shabab insurgency, there is an public scrutiny on how the war is mismanaged with soldiers being led by unqualified senior officers.
