U.S. airstrikes are killing civilians in Somalia, a new Amnesty International report says, refuting the Pentagon’s repeated statements that no civilians have died, even as U.S. attacks have at least tripled under the Trump administration. Amnesty’s report, released today, details five airstrikes that resulted in the deaths of 14 people. The group’s forensic investigation found substantial evidence that suggests American airstrikes are responsible for deaths in four of those cases, and likely the fifth. “This is a detailed, credible, and deeply disturbing report,” Hina Shamsi, director of the American Civil Liberties Union’s National Security Project said in an email to The Intercept. “Despite very challenging investigative conditions, Amnesty provides strong evidence that the Trump administration’s claim of zero civilian casualties simply cannot be believed.” Africa Command, which oversees U.S. military activity in Africa, disavows all of Amnesty’s findings. Loosened rules of engagement have allowed for mistakes and misidentification that end in fatal attacks, the report concludes. Amnesty says indiscriminate aspects of the military’s tactics may mean that some attacks could constitute war crimes, even though the U.S. has technically not declared war on Somalia. Indeed, when asked if the U.S. is at war in Somalia, Gen. Thomas D. Waldhauser, the commander of AFRICOM, said during a congressional hearing earlier this month, “I wouldn’t characterize that we’re at war. It’s specifically designed for us not to own that.” Amnesty contends that U.S. behavior makes it a clear party to non-international armed conflict and as such, the laws of war would apply. Months after Donald Trump’s inauguration in 2017, sections of Somalia were declared “an area of active hostilities,” allowing AFRICOM to carry out more offensive strikes in the country on anyone deemed to be a member of the militant group Shabab, with less interagency vetting than was previously required. Retired Brig. Gen. Donald Bolduc, commander of U.S. Special Operations Forces in Africa from April 2015 to June 2017, told Amnesty that his understanding was that with the new designation, individuals in these areas can be considered lawful targets based on four criteria: age, gender, location (being in specific parts of Somalia where the population is considered supportive of Shabab), and proximity to Shabab. “The reason President Trump changed the rules is because now these guys can be hit,” Bolduc told Amnesty. “They are in close proximity, they are part of the al Shabaab network.” “If General Bolduc’s description of the targeting standards is correct, then the U.S. is intentionally killing men solely because they are of military age and might know al Shabaab members, or are in areas where the population is deemed sympathetic to the group,” Shamsi explained.

Maps showing the Lower Shabelle region of Somalia, where five airstrikes resulted in the deaths of 14 people.Images: Amnesty International

AFRICOM said Bolduc did not accurately summarize the targeting standards, but would not provide additional information for “operational security reasons.” It says that increased operations have been effective. “AFRICOM remains dedicated to providing assistance to the Federal Government of Somalia and is encouraged by the incremental progress that has been achieved thus far, especially in applying pressure to the al Shabaab network,” a spokesperson said in an email to The Intercept.