The families of people living in areas hit by recent US air operations across Somalia say they have suffered deaths, injuries and the loss of homes and livelihoods as the tempo of strikes climbed under the Trump administration.
Residents and relatives in affected communities recounted scenes of chaos after strikes they say struck markets, homes and public spaces, leaving some family members dead and others wounded. Many described fleeing with only what they could carry, citing fears of further raids and the breakdown of local services that followed.
Humanitarian toll
Local accounts point to broader displacement as civilians escape zones of fighting and air operations. Families said children were among those injured and that access to medical care was limited in the immediate aftermath, complicating efforts to treat the wounded and account for the dead.
Policy context
The increase in air strikes is part of a wider US campaign targeting armed groups in Somalia. Officials have framed the operations as counterterrorism measures, while residents and relatives of victims highlight the human cost on communities that have already endured decades of conflict.
Longer-term effects
Those who fled said recovery would be slow, with damaged homes, lost income and ongoing fear of returning. The accounts underscore the challenge of protecting civilians in areas of persistent insecurity and the difficulties faced by families trying to rebuild amid continued military activity.
Questions about the full scale of civilian harm remain, as communities continue to document deaths, injuries and displacement on the ground. The experiences described by families in Somalia reflect the immediate human consequences of an intensified campaign of air strikes in the region.