AFRICOM Says Doing Utmost To Prevent Civilian Casualties In Somalia Amid Amnesty Criticism

WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 20th March, 2019) The US Africa Command (AFRICOM) said in a press release on Wednesday that it was doing everything possible to bring the likelihood of civilian casualties in Somalia to zero as its operation in the African country had met criticism of the Amnesty International watchdog that had reported about alleged civilian victims of the US airstrikes against Al-Shabaab terrorist group.

Earlier on Wednesday, Amnesty International said that at least 14 civilians had been killed and eight others had been injured in five airstrikes in Somalia over the past two years.

"We appreciate Amnesty International's efforts to allow us to contribute to the report prior to its publication, although we believe the report does not accurately reflect AFRICOM's record in mitigating civilian casualties.

In fact, AFRICOM goes to extraordinary lengths to reduce the likelihood of civilian casualties, exercising restraint as a matter of policy," the press release said.

AFRICOM added that Amnesty International had submitted 13 allegations of civilian casualties over the past two years.

"Our assessments found that no AFRICOM airstrike resulted in any civilian casualty or injury. Our assessments are based on post-strike analysis using intelligence methods not available to non-military organizations," AFRICOM said.

Al-Shabaab emerged in Somalia in 2006 and has claimed it had executed numerous terrorist attacks throughout the region. The group has sworn allegiance to the Al-Qaeda terrorist organization (banned in Russia).