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In a heart-wrenching account from Somalia, seven-year-old Abdiqadir Salah, gravely injured in a US airstrike, risks losing his ability to walk unless he receives urgent medical treatment costing approximately $1,000. His mother, Marian Haji Abdi Guled, is devastated, expressing her anguish over her inability to support her wounded children. This tragedy highlights the ongoing humanitarian crisis resulting from military actions in the region, particularly as the US government maintains its stance denying civilian casualties.
A Child’s Nightmare
On 15 November 2025, Abdiqadir was outside his home in the town of Jamaame when shrapnel from a US missile struck him, leaving him with severe injuries to his back and thigh. The attack, part of a broader military campaign targeting the Islamist group al-Shabaab, resulted in the tragic deaths of at least 12 civilians, including eight children. This incident is noted as one of the most lethal strikes against civilians in Somalia during the Trump administration, echoing the tragic legacy of the 1993 Black Hawk Down operation.
Witnesses describe a scene of chaos, as bombs rained down without warning. Marian Guled recounted the horror of that day: “All three of my children were laying on the ground covered in blood,” she said, recalling the immediate aftermath as she attempted to tend to her injured offspring. “Every step you took, or direction you turned, there were shells and missiles raining everywhere.”
After the attack, Guled fled with her three injured children into the countryside, desperately seeking safety as drones hovered ominously overhead.
The Long Road to Treatment
Following the assault, Guled embarked on a grueling journey to find medical help. Despite travelling 40 miles to Jilib, where al-Shabaab maintains a foothold, the local hospital was unable to offer assistance. Undeterred, she borrowed money to reach Mogadishu, enduring hunger and fear for her children’s lives during the two-day trek. Tragically, her eldest son, Mohamed, remains behind in Jamaame due to the family’s financial constraints.
In Mogadishu, medical professionals at Kaafi hospital have confirmed the need for immediate surgery to remove the shrapnel from Abdiqadir’s body. “If the shrapnel isn’t removed from his body, it could affect his ability to continue walking,” Guled explained, her voice tinged with despair. However, the financial burden remains insurmountable; with the operation costing nearly £750 and accommodation in the capital reaching approximately £190 per month, hope for recovery is dwindling.
The Silence of Accountability
The US government has refrained from acknowledging any civilian casualties from its military operations in Somalia. Under the previous administration, the Pentagon dismantled a programme that aimed to prevent civilian deaths and to ensure accountability for such tragedies. In light of this, Guled’s pleas for assistance go unanswered, and the cycle of suffering continues.
“I don’t know where the money for the operation will come from,” she lamented. “The children’s father is back at the farm, trying to protect our crops, but he too lacks the means to come to Mogadishu.”
Despite the overwhelming evidence of civilian harm, US officials have not responded to questions regarding the incident or the role of Somali ground forces in the attack. Guled firmly holds the US responsible for the suffering inflicted upon her family, stating, “It is the Americans who are responsible for our suffering.”
Why it Matters
The plight of Abdiqadir Salah and his family is emblematic of the broader humanitarian crisis resulting from international military interventions in Somalia. The lack of accountability and the refusal to acknowledge civilian casualties not only exacerbate the suffering of innocent families but also erode the trust in foreign military operations. As the international community grapples with the implications of such military actions, stories like that of Guled and her children serve as a stark reminder of the human cost of conflict and the urgent need for humanitarian support and accountability in war-torn regions.
