U.S. Africa Command is looking into allegations that an airstrike last week killed Cubans being held hostage by the Somali militant group al-Shabab. (U.S. Africa Command)
STUTTGART, Germany — U.S. Africa Command said Tuesday that it is investigating claims that two Cuban hostages were killed in an airstrike last week in Somalia that was aimed at the al-Shabab militant group.
The strike occurred Thursday near Jilib, in the south of the country, AFRICOM said in a statement, adding that it was aware of the reports.
“We do not have further information at this time about these reports, but we do take all claims of civilian casualties seriously,” the statement said. “The command will continue to assess the results of this operation and will provide additional information as available.”
The AFRICOM message came in response to a Saturday statement by al-Shabab saying that two Cuban doctors it took hostage in 2019, Assel Herrera and Landy Rodriguez, had been killed instantly in the strike.
The doctors were abducted nearly five years ago during an operation in Kenya, where they were working.
Al-Shabab, the largest recognized terrorist organization in Africa, has been at war with Somalia’s weak national government for two decades. The organization has a track record of taking civilians and foreign workers hostage.
In January, the group captured multiple people when a helicopter contracted by the United Nations was forced to land in al-Shabab territory after mechanical problems.
Over the years, the U.S. has stepped up its support for Somalia, where American special operations troops train government forces. The command also routinely carries out airstrikes against al-Shabab targets.
Still, al-Shabab has proved resistant to international efforts against it.
In 2023, Somalia experienced a 22% increase in deaths stemming from Islamic militant violence, reaching a record high of 7,643, the African Center for Strategic Studies reported in its annual assessment of violence on the continent.
That tally represents a tripling of the number since 2020, the report said.
