MOGADISHU, Somalia – More than 30 civilians were killed, with dozens injured on Tuesday night in a Somali special forces operation near the town of Afgooye in an attack that also destroyed homes and displaced hundreds, as per reports by various witnesses.
According to the villagers, the deadly raid in Jambaluul, about 40 kilometers southwest of Mogadishu, was carried out by the army’s Danab commandos trained by the U.S. Africa Command [AFRICOM]. The families were asleep when the attack occurred.
There had been no combat activity in the area prior to the assault.
The Somali government stated the operation targeted Al-Shabaab militants, describing it as a “special operation,” though residents denied any militants were present during the Danab attack that took innocent civilian lives, according to the locals.
Doctors at the main hospital in Afgoye town reported receiving more than 100 wounded civilians, some of whom were transferred to Mogadishu. Residents have expressed concerns about civilian safety and the overall security situation.
The incident highlights the persistent challenges in Somalia, where counterterrorism operations by government forces and their allied U.S. forces frequently endanger civilians, complicating efforts to stabilize the Horn of Africa country.
