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In a heart-wrenching tale of survival and despair, seven-year-old Abdiqadir Salah remains in critical condition after sustaining serious injuries from a US airstrike in Somalia, which tragically claimed the lives of twelve individuals, including eight children. His mother, Marian Haji Abdi Guled, is now grappling with the reality that without a £750 emergency operation, her son risks losing the ability to walk. Despite the grave circumstances, the family finds itself without the means to pay for the necessary medical intervention, while the US government denies any civilian casualties from the attack.
The Attack: A Day of Horror
On 15 November 2025, the quiet streets of Jamaame were shattered by the sound of drones and subsequent missile strikes that would alter the lives of many forever. Abdiqadir was playing outside his home when he was struck. “That’s where three of my children got wounded. All three of them were lying on the ground covered in blood,” Guled recalled, her voice trembling with emotion.
As panic enveloped the area, she sought refuge in the nearby countryside, attempting to protect her injured children from further attacks. The chaos saw her eldest son, Mohamed, and daughter, Sumaya, also suffer from shrapnel injuries. Guled described how they could hear the drones before the missiles struck, yet there was no warning, and the devastation came swiftly and mercilessly.
The Quest for Medical Help
After the attack, Guled faced a harrowing journey to secure medical assistance for her children. Travelling over 40 miles to Jilib, the de facto capital of a territory controlled by al-Shabaab, she found that the local hospital was ill-equipped to help. With no other options, Guled made the arduous trip to Mogadishu, where medical professionals confirmed the need for urgent surgery to remove the shrapnel still lodged in Abdiqadir’s body.
“They told me if the shrapnel isn’t removed from his body, it could affect his ability to continue walking,” Guled explained, highlighting the dire nature of her son’s condition. Despite receiving treatment for her daughter, Abdiqadir remains in a precarious position, with his mother unable to afford the surgery that could save his mobility.
A Mother’s Struggle Against Odds
Living in Mogadishu has brought its own challenges for Guled, who struggles to cover the costs of accommodation and basic necessities while desperately trying to raise the funds for her son’s surgery. “I don’t know where the money will come from,” she lamented, revealing the extent of her despair. With her husband back in Jamaame tending to their farm, the family’s resources are severely strained.
The US government’s refusal to acknowledge civilian casualties in their airstrikes compounds the trauma experienced by families like Guled’s. The Pentagon has not provided any compensation for the victims of airstrikes, leaving those affected without any recourse. The absence of a programme that once aimed to prevent and respond to civilian deaths further exacerbates the situation, creating a climate of despair among survivors.
The Broader Context: US Military Operations in Somalia
This incident raises significant questions about US military operations in Somalia, particularly regarding the selection of targets and the collateral damage inflicted on civilian populations. Witnesses assert that the casualties in Jamaame were a direct result of drone strikes, rather than fire from ground troops, yet US officials have remained silent on the specifics of the operation.
This airstrike marks one of the deadliest attacks on civilians in Somalia in recent years, reminiscent of the catastrophic 1993 US military intervention in Mogadishu that left scores dead. The ongoing use of drone warfare in the region has led to a cycle of violence that disproportionately affects innocent civilians, particularly children.
Why it Matters
The plight of Abdiqadir Salah and his family exemplifies the tragic consequences of military operations conducted without adequate accountability. As the US continues its airstrikes in Somalia, the lack of transparency and failure to acknowledge civilian casualties raises ethical questions about foreign intervention. The heartbreaking struggle of a mother to secure medical care for her wounded child highlights the urgent need for reforms in military conduct and humanitarian assistance, reminding the world of the human cost of conflict.