The Somali government refuted the Amnesty International report accusing it of causing civilian deaths in Turkish drone strikes in Lower Shabelle. Deputy Information Minister Abdirahman Adala clarified that the military operations against al-Shabab have not resulted in civilian casualties. Minister Abdirahman Al-Addala assured that the military is vigilant and there have been no civilian casualties in any operation. He mentioned that the government has designated targets for the Turkish drones and conducted follow-up investigations in conflict zones to verify the absence of civilian casualties. The London-based watchdog reported the deaths of 23 civilians, including 14 children and five women, in drone strikes on March 18 in Lower Shabelle, labeling them as potential war crimes. The region has been heavily impacted by the Al-Shabaab insurgency, culminating in a deadly attack on a military base and subsequent drone strikes following clashes between Al-Shabaab and Somali security forces.
