MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – A drone strike mistakenly killed at least 12 Ma’wisley clan fighters during fierce clashes with al Qaeda-linked Al-Shabaab militants in central Somalia’s Hiran region, a senior military official said on Monday.
Colonel Khalif Idiris Osman told Mogadishu-based Kulmiye Radio that the fighting erupted on Sunday near Moqokori town, where Somali government troops and allied Ma’wisley militia launched coordinated operations against al-Shabaab insurgents.
According to Osman, the drone strike hit a group of Ma’wisley fighters attempting to outflank the militants near Mubah town. He did not specify whether the unmanned aerial vehicle belonged to the United States or Turkey—two countries known to conduct airstrikes in support of Somali counterterrorism operations.
“Twelve militia members were killed instantly, and others were wounded,” Osman said, calling for a thorough investigation and accountability for the incident.
The Somali government has not officially commented on the origin of the strike.
Al-Shabaab, through its affiliated media outlets, claimed killing dozens of clan fighters and Somali army personnel, including senior commanders, during two days of clashes.
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