MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – A US air strike killed at least 5 civilians and wounded more than 10 others in the town of Mubarak in south Somalia’s Lower Shabelle region, Dalsan TV reported on Friday.
The air raid targeted a meeting of local drivers that transport residents between the agricultural town and the Somali Mogadishu, inflicting casualties on unarmed civilians.
Some of the wounded people have been rushed to hospitals in the Somali capital.
Some Somali media outlets put the death toll at 7, with nearly 20 wounded. The town which is under the control of Al-Shabaab armed group often comes under US air attacks.
Last year, 3 civilians were killed in an American strike in the nearby town of Darusalam.
US military has not yet commented on the deadly attack.
In a statement, Somalia’s government admitted there were civilians harmed in a security operation in the town of Mubarak, adding that a local Al-Shabaab commander was killed.
It is the first time reports emerged of civilians killed by the US military since President Joe Biden authorized the redeployment of hundreds of American special forces back to the war-torn Horn of Africa nation.
According to rights groups, dozens of Somali civilians have been killed in US drone strikes over the past years. None of the families of victims have been compensated by the United States.
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