MOGADISHU, Somalia — September 14, 2026 — Airstrikes were reported on Monday in Saakow town in Somalia’s Middle Juba region, where residents said three missiles struck the Daruuro Water Company. No casualties were immediately reported, and neither the Somali government nor the United States military had publicly confirmed the attack.
Latest Developments
Residents in Saakow told local media that the missiles struck the Daruuro Water Company, a facility in the town, during the reported air operation on Monday.
The number of missiles and the reported target could not be independently verified. It was also not immediately clear whether the site was damaged or whether any people were inside the facility at the time of the strikes.
Local sources attributed the strikes to the United States, saying they were part of a series of recent counterterrorism operations against Al-Shabaab positions in Middle Juba. U.S. Africa Command, known as AFRICOM, had not issued a statement on the reported operation by the time of publication.
Somalia’s federal government also did not immediately comment on the strikes.
No Casualties Reported
No deaths or injuries had been reported following the attack, according to residents. Information from Saakow is often difficult to independently confirm because of limited access to the area and the continuing security situation.
Residents said the Daruuro Water Company had previously been targeted in airstrikes, making Monday’s incident the second reported attack on the facility. Details of the earlier strike, including who carried it out and whether there were casualties, were not immediately available.
Government and U.S. Response
There was no immediate official claim of responsibility for the reported attack.
AFRICOM has regularly carried out strikes in Somalia in coordination with the federal government, saying its operations target Al-Shabaab fighters, commanders, weapons, and facilities used by the militant group.
In previous statements on operations in Somalia, AFRICOM has said it assesses civilian harm allegations and conducts strikes in support of Somali security forces. The command typically releases details after confirming an operation, including the broad location and its assessment of militant and civilian casualties.
No such confirmation had been issued in relation to the reported Saakow strikes as of Monday.
Background to the Conflict
Saakow is located in Middle Juba, a region where Al-Shabaab has maintained a significant presence for years. The group controls or exerts influence over several areas in the region, making independent reporting and access for humanitarian agencies difficult.
Middle Juba has remained a focus of Somalia’s campaign against Al-Shabaab, alongside operations in Lower Juba, Lower Shabelle, Hiiraan, Galgaduud and Mudug regions. Somali forces, supported by international partners, have sought to weaken the group’s ability to collect revenue, move fighters and launch attacks.
The United States has been among Somalia’s principal security partners in the fight against Al-Shabaab. Its air operations have targeted suspected militant positions across southern and central Somalia, although the frequency and details of individual strikes vary.
Al-Shabaab has carried out attacks against Somali security forces, government institutions and civilians, including in Mogadishu and other major towns. The group remains one of the country’s most serious security threats despite sustained military pressure.