On the morning of November 15, 2025, a series of explosions devastated the southern Somali town of Jamaame, killing at least 12 civilians, including eight children, in what marks the deadliest known U.S. military operation targeting civilians in Somalia in over two decades. The airstrikes, carried out by U.S. drone teams, obliterated homes and caused extensive damage to local infrastructure, including a school, which was reduced to a shell.

Among the victims was the family of Abdullahi Mohamed Abo Sheikh Ali, who was away tending his fields at the time of the attack. His grandfather, Mohamed, described the harrowing scene upon arriving at the site: scattered clothing and books amid the rubble, and the bodies of several of his grandchildren torn apart. Mohamed also found the body of Saiyo Hassan Abukar, his heavily pregnant daughter-in-law, alongside those of her four children, aged between four and ten.

Witnesses and survivors reported hearing a high-pitched hum before the missiles struck, with some observing unmanned aerial vehicles circling above the town. At least 15 explosions were counted, as missiles rained down on multiple locations, including the Burburka neighborhood, where nine strikes were recorded in quick succession.

The U.S. government has neither confirmed responsibility for the civilian casualties nor acknowledged any deaths resulting from the strikes, and no formal investigation has been initiated. The attack represents a significant escalation in U.S. operations in Somalia, which have increased substantially under the administration of President Donald Trump. A directive signed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in early 2025 reversed previous safeguards put in place during the Biden administration, allowing U.S. Africa Command (Africom) commanders to authorize drone strikes without White House approval.

This policy change has led to a dramatic rise in the number of airstrikes, from 123 in 2025 to an even higher frequency in early 2026, with drones armed primarily with Hellfire missiles. Analysts note that the escalation occurs amid a broader, shadowy counterterrorism campaign marked by limited transparency and accountability for civilian casualties.

Locals have expressed shock and grief not only over the loss of life but also over the apparent disregard for the presence of children in the target areas, raising serious questions about the quality of U.S. intelligence and the value placed on Somali lives in the conduct of military operations. Survivors recall the chaos as families fled from missile strikes, with many caught in the destruction. One resident described the scene as missiles fell “everywhere,” leaving her children wounded and covered in blood.

The incident draws renewed scrutiny to the human cost of U.S. counterterrorism efforts in the Horn of Africa, a region where complex security dynamics and fragile governance have made civilian protection both vital and challenging. This latest attack in Jamaame underscores concerns over the lack of formal mechanisms to investigate and address civilian harm in the context of U.S. military actions abroad.