The Tragic Deaths of Mariam Shilow Muse and Luul Dahir Mohamed in a U.S. Drone Strike: A Story of Missed Connections and Fatal Blindness

Accident – Death – Obituary News : The Intercept has recently published a detailed investigation into a drone strike in Somalia that resulted in the deaths of a woman and child. The report, supported by the Pulitzer Center, sheds light on the flawed intelligence and fatal blindness that led to the tragic incident.

The story revolves around Mariam Shilow Muse, a bright-eyed 4-year-old girl, and her mother, Luul Dahir Mohamed. Luul had planned to visit her brother to introduce Mariam to her young cousins. Unable to reach her brother by phone, Luul and Mariam caught a ride with some men in a maroon Toyota Hilux pickup. On the way, Luul’s brother passed the same truck and noticed Luul and Mariam inside. He waved and honked, but the truck continued on its way.

Later, when the news of a drone strike hitting a pickup carrying mattresses spread, Luul’s brother and one of his brothers started driving towards the site of the attack. They were the only ones on the road and were concerned about being targeted by another strike. However, they decided to continue, regardless of the danger.

In a military joint operations center, members of a Special Operations task force watched live footage of everyone who entered the Hilux. They meticulously recorded and analyzed the movements of each person, referring to them as “ADM” or adult males. However, their confusion and inexperience led them to misinterpret the footage. They couldn’t distinguish between a man and a woman, let alone identify the 4-year-old child present in the vehicle.

After realizing that their initial strike failed to kill all the passengers, the Americans decided to eliminate what they believed was a sole survivor running away from the vehicle. Unfortunately, the survivor was actually Luul and Mariam. Another missile was fired, causing their deaths.

Qasim, Luul’s brother, found the torn-apart pickup and the bodies of the four men inside. He searched for fragments of his sister’s body along the dirt road, eventually bundling Luul and Mariam’s remains and bringing them home. They were buried together in a village cemetery.

The investigation, obtained by The Intercept through the Freedom of Information Act, reveals the confusion and lack of understanding among the American forces involved. They failed to differentiate between civilians and combatants, resulting in the deaths of Luul and Mariam. The report also highlights that the strike was conducted under loosened rules of engagement approved by the Trump White House.

Despite the Somali press reporting civilian casualties, the U.S. Africa Command initially claimed that no civilians were killed in the airstrike. It took more than a year for the truth to come to light, and no one was ever held accountable for the civilian deaths.

The Intercept’s investigation provides a rare insight into the U.S. drone war in Somalia, exposing the systemic failures and tragic consequences of misidentifying targets. It serves as a reminder of the need for greater accountability and transparency in military operations to prevent the loss of innocent lives..