MOGADISHU (SD)-The human rights organization Amnesty International has stated that in March, airstrikes carried out by the Somali military, using drones provided by Turkey, killed 23 civilians, including 14 children. They have called for an investigation into what they termed as “war crimes.”

According to Amnesty, on March 18th, airstrikes targeted a house in the Baghdad neighborhood in southern Lower Shabelle region, resulting in the deaths of at least 22 people, including 14 children, and injuries to 17 others.

Amnesty International reports that residents informed them that the airstrikes hit civilian residences, leading to intense ground fighting involving al-Shabaab and Somali security forces.

Amnesty interviewed 12 people, including victims, their relatives, and eyewitnesses, and the agency reviewed and analyzed satellite images and images of weapon fragments to identify the use of Turkish-made bombs and Bayraktar TB2 drones.

The Somali government has confirmed airstrikes against al-Shabaab in the Baghdad neighborhood in Lower Shabelle, but they have not acknowledged civilian casualties.

The Somali government reported that in a separate operation in the Baldooska area, 24 al-Shabaab militants were killed, while 15 militants were killed in an airstrike in Baghdad.

Amnesty has called on the Somali government and Turkey to provide detailed information, but they have not received a satisfactory response.