Rep. Sara Jacobs Calls on Pentagon to Compensate Somali Family for Drone Strike Deaths
In a recent investigation by The Intercept, it was revealed that a 2018 U.S. drone strike in Somalia resulted in the death of a woman and her 4-year-old daughter. Rep. Sara Jacobs, D-Calif., has now urged the Pentagon to take immediate action and provide reparations to the affected family.
This call for action comes after two dozen human rights organizations, including 14 Somali and 10 international groups, wrote an open letter to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin in December, demanding compensation for the family’s losses. The family is also seeking an explanation and an apology.
The drone strike, which took place on April 1, 2018, is believed to have killed at least three, possibly five, civilians, including 22-year-old Luul Dahir Mohamed and her daughter Mariam Shilow Muse. While a U.S. military investigation acknowledged the deaths of a woman and child, their identities were not confirmed. The family has been trying to contact the U.S. government for over five years, but they have never received a response, despite using the U.S. Africa Command’s online civilian casualty reporting portal.
Rep. Jacobs, who serves on the House Armed Services Committee and the House Foreign Affairs Committee, has expressed deep concern over the lack of communication from the Department of Defense. She believes that acknowledgment and amends are necessary for the family to find peace and healing.
Jacobs’s call for reparations coincides with the release of the Pentagon’s “Instruction on Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response” (DoD-I) in late December. This document, mandated under the 2019 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), directs the military to acknowledge civilian harm resulting from U.S. military operations and provide condolences and ex gratia payments to affected individuals and communities.
While this policy is a step in the right direction, Annie Shiel, the U.S. advocacy director for the Center for Civilians in Conflict, emphasizes the importance of its implementation. She believes that it is crucial for the policy to prevent civilian harm and provide answers and accountability to those affected by past operations.
Despite the DoD-I mentioning the need for a free flow of information to the media and the public, the Pentagon has not responded to questions regarding the open letter, the DoD-I, or Rep. Jacobs’s comments. Questions about civilian harm sent to the Defense Department in September 2022 also remain unanswered.
In recent years, there has been increased scrutiny of the U.S. military’s treatment of civilians in conflict zones. The Pentagon has pledged reforms, including the release of the Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response Action Plan (CHMR-AP), which aims to improve how the Pentagon addresses noncombatant deaths. However, this plan lacks clear mechanisms for addressing past civilian harm.
Rep. Jacobs, as the founder and co-chair of the Protection of Civilians in Conflict Caucus, has been at the forefront of holding the Pentagon accountable for civilian casualties. She introduced the Civilian Harm Review and Reassessment Act last July, which would require the Defense Department to examine and reinvestigate past civilian casualty allegations and provide amends if necessary.
Her efforts have also led to provisions in the 2024 NDAA, requiring the director of national intelligence to notify Congress of civilian casualties resulting from U.S. intelligence used by a third party. Additionally, a Government Accountability Office assessment of civilian harm training is underway.
Rep. Jacobs urges the Department of Defense to fulfill its responsibility outlined in the CHMR-AP and provide amends for past civilian harm. She believes that immediate action is necessary in addressing this specific case and providing justice to the affected family.
Source: Rep. Sara Jacobs Urges Pentagon to Make Amends to Family of Drone Strike Victims
