A US airstrike in southern Somalia that killed at least 12 civilians, including eight children, in November 2025 has raised renewed questions over the consequences of American military operations targeting armed groups in the country.

The strike took place in Jamaame, a town in Somalia’s Lower Juba region, on the morning of Nov. 15, according to accounts gathered from residents and reviewed evidence from the attack site. The United States has not publicly acknowledged civilian deaths from the operation.

Residents said the attack began shortly after 9 a.m. when aircraft were heard above the town. Witnesses described a series of explosions that struck residential areas and a religious school, leaving homes damaged or destroyed.The victims included children who had been returning from Qur’an school, families inside their homes, and a pregnant woman, according to relatives and witnesses.

The US military confirmed that it had conducted an operation against al-Shabaab, an armed group linked to al-Qaida that has carried out attacks in Somalia and neighbouring countries. The strike was part of a wider campaign of US air operations aimed at disrupting the group.Residents said the aircraft involved were likely drones.

The weaponry used in the attack was not publicly disclosed, but witnesses described repeated missile strikes consistent with the use of remotely piloted aircraft.At one home in Jamaame, relatives said the attack killed Safiyo Hassan Abukar, who was heavily pregnant, along with her children Abdifatah, 10, Abdinasir, 7, Hussein, 6, and Abdurahman, 4.Mohamed, the children’s grandfather, said he rushed to the scene after hearing explosions and found debris scattered around the destroyed house.

He said Abdifatah was often close to his mother and helped her with household tasks. He described Abdinasir as a child who regularly asked him to pray so he could memorise the Qur’an.Other residents reported similar losses.

Marian Haji Abdi Guled said her children were returning from Qur’an school when the attack occurred. She said the sound of aircraft overhead caused fear among residents before the strikes hit.According to Guled, her children were injured when missiles struck nearby.

She said the area became chaotic as residents attempted to move away from the attacks.Maryan Nur Buruji said her pregnant stepdaughter sought shelter at the Qur’an school with her two-year-old child. She said the school was later hit, killing the woman while the toddler survived.

Another resident, Mohamed Hassan Abdulle, said he returned to find his home destroyed and his wife, Farhiyo Hassan Nuur, and their 10-month-old daughter, Layla, dead.Farmers working outside the town also described receiving urgent calls from relatives as the attack unfolded.Gedow Ibrahim said he was working in his sesame fields when his wife called, warning him that drones were flying overhead.

He told her to remain inside, but later received another call saying their home had been hit.He said his daughters Maryan, 9, and Farhiyo, 7, were killed, while another child, Amin, 8, was injured by shrapnel.The attack also killed other residents, including a local imam, according to witnesses.

Residents said at least 15 explosions were heard and that numerous homes were damaged. Witnesses estimated that about 18 houses were destroyed, while the school was heavily damaged.The incident is among the deadliest reported civilian casualties from a US operation in Somalia in recent years.

Previous major incidents involving US forces in Somalia include the 1993 Battle of Mogadishu, known as “Black Hawk Down,” which resulted in significant casualties during a failed US military mission.The strike occurred months after the start of the second Trump administration, during a period when US policy toward Somalia was being reassessed.

In early 2025, US defence officials held discussions with senior officers from US Africa Command, which oversees American military operations on the continent.A directive issued during that period changed procedures governing aspects of US military operations, according to reporting on the policy shift. The effect of those changes on individual operations was not publicly detailed.

US officials have repeatedly said American military action in Somalia is aimed at preventing attacks by al-Shabaab and reducing the group’s ability to operate. The group has controlled territory in parts of Somalia at various times and has carried out attacks against civilians, government forces, and international targets.

Human rights organisations have previously raised concerns about civilian harm from airstrikes in Somalia and other conflict zones, calling for greater transparency around targeting decisions and investigations into possible civilian casualties.The Jamaame strike has renewed scrutiny over the balance between counterterrorism operations and civilian protection in areas where armed groups operate among local populations.

For the families affected, the consequences remain centred on the loss of relatives who were inside homes, travelling from school, or working nearby when the strikes occurred.Abdullahi Mohamed Abo Sheikh Ali, whose family was killed, said he believed civilians had been caught in the attack.

“The Americans bombed us,” he said. “Children, women and elders were bombed. They spared nothing.”

Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar, the theatre commander of Operation Hadin Kai, disclosed that foreign mercenaries, including those from Pakistan, are contributing to a dangerous shift in the operational capabilities of terror groups such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).

Speaking during a media tour in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, Abubakar warned that these foreign actors are arming and training local terrorist factions, resulting in more sophisticated and deadly attacks on Nigerian forces.

“The infiltration of foreign mercenaries in the joint operations area has significantly escalated the threat posed by terrorist groups like ISWAP and Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (JAS),” Abubakar told reporters, as quoted by The Cable.

According to military sources, the four Pakistani nationals were detained over suspected links to terrorism and arms smuggling. Their arrests underscore the growing international dimension of Nigeria’s counter-terrorism challenge.

“These individuals were allegedly involved in supplying arms to terrorist groups,” Abubakar revealed, warning that this external support is enabling jihadist groups to adapt modern battlefield tactics.

Among the enhanced tactics observed are the use of drones for surveillance and attacks, production of advanced improvised explosive devices (IEDs), and the laying of strategic ambushes designed to inflict maximum casualties on troops.

Abubakar noted that beyond providing weaponry, the foreign mercenaries are delivering both strategic and tactical training, allowing insurgents to conduct more coordinated and lethal operations. “The growing influence of these mercenaries is evident in the terrorists’ increased sophistication, leading to higher troop casualties and significant equipment losses,” he stated.

He further warned that Nigeria’s fight is no longer against local insurgents alone but against a transnational terror network that is receiving material and strategic support from external actors.

The commander emphasized the urgency of a coordinated regional response, calling for enhanced intelligence-sharing, surveillance, and tighter cross-border security cooperation with neighboring countries.

“Boko Haram and ISWAP are not just fighting our armed forces; they are waging war against Nigeria itself,” Abubakar asserted.

Northern Nigeria has been plagued by insurgency for over a decade, but the involvement of foreign mercenaries—particularly from regions like Pakistan—marks a disturbing evolution in the conflict, demanding swift and unified international action.