This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Jebiguess (talk | contribs) at 20:11, 22 January 2025 (Created page for Amara). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.
Revision as of 20:11, 22 January 2025 by Jebiguess (talk | contribs) (Created page for Amara)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)| Battle of Amara (2021) | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of Somali Civil War (2009–present) | |||||||||
| |||||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||||
 Somali Army AFRICOM (airstrike only) |
 al-Shabaab | ||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
| Ahmed Abdi Micy † | Unknown | ||||||||
| Units involved | |||||||||
|
Danab Darawish | Unknown | ||||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
|
5 soldiers killed 11-24 vehicles destroyed |
90 killed (per Somali govt) 62 killed (per US) | ||||||||
| 2 civilians killed | |||||||||
| Somali Civil War (2009–present) | |
|---|---|
|
On August 24, 2021, jihadists from Al-Shabaab attacked the town of Amara, Galmudug, Somalia, recapturing the town from Somali forces and killing several soldiers and civilians. The brief capture was reversed by a US airstrike which killed at least sixty jihadists.
Background
In early August, al-Shabaab militants launched several offensives to recapture territory from the Somali government across Galmudug state. One of the towns that Somali forces had recaptured was Amara, on the route to the strategic coastal town of Harardhere. Amara had been under al-Shabaab control for over a decade until it's recapture on August 3. On August 10, al-Shabaab fighters killed eight civilians near Beledweyne in their offensives.
Battle
The battle began after al-Shabaab militants targeted Somali special units known as Danab and Darawish in Amara. Eyewitnesses said that the government forces retreated after the attack, and that al-Shabaab took control of the town. Between eleven and twenty-four vehicles were captured, and at least two civilians and four soldiers were killed in the attack. A Somali reporter for Voice of America stated that five soldiers were killed. One of the soldiers killed was Ahmed Abdi Micy, a former Ahlu Sunna Waljama'a fighter.
At 10:52 am, a U.S. airstrike targeted a gathering of al-Shabaab militants in Amara, killing at least 62 fighters. Somali state media estimated that 90 militants were killed in the battle and airstrike together. Following the airstrike, Somali forces recaptured Amara that same day. The Center for Strategic and International Studies assessed that the battle was an example of al-Shabaab's continued ability to wage an insurgency despite successful Somali offensives.
References
- "CrisisWatch Database | Crisis Group". www.crisisgroup.org. Retrieved 2025-01-22.
- ^ "Al Shabaab attacks Somali military base, recaptures central town". Reuters. Archived from the original on 2023-10-28. Retrieved 2025-01-22.
- ^ "USSOM343 – August 24, 2021". Retrieved 2025-01-22.
- ^ "CrisisWatch Database | Crisis Group". www.crisisgroup.org. Retrieved 2025-01-22.
- ^ "Examining Extremism: Harakat al Shabaab al Mujahideen (al Shabaab) | Examining Extremism | CSIS". www.csis.org. Retrieved 2025-01-22.