The global watchdog urged Somalia and Turkey to investigate the incidents for possible “war crimes.” Amnesty International accused the Somali government of killing over two dozen civilians using Turkish drones in attacks against Islamist insurgents, potentially constituting war crimes. The London-based organization reported the deaths of 23 civilians, including 14 children and five women, during drone strikes on March 18 in Lower Shabelle, southern Somalia, based on victim and witness accounts, satellite imagery, and medical reports. “Attacks that don’t distinguish between military targets and civilians are indiscriminate and may qualify as war crimes,” the watchdog stated, adding that the strikes injured 17 others, including 11 children and two women. Lower Shabelle has been severely impacted by the insurgency of Al-Shabaab, classified as a terrorist group by the US government. In response to Al-Shabaab’s attack on a military base in March, nearly 20 soldiers were killed, prompting the drone strikes on March 18 following clashes between Al-Shabaab and Somali security forces. “The Somali and Turkish governments should investigate these fatal strikes as war crimes and cease reckless attacks on civilians,” said Tigere Chagutah, Amnesty International’s regional director for East and Southern Africa. Expressing horror over the incident, a survivor who lost relatives, including three children, called it a “massacre.” Amnesty identified the bombs used in the drone strikes as “MAM-L glide bombs,” linking them to Turkey through munition scrap metal photos. Somalia hosts a significant Turkish military base under security cooperation agreements between the two nations. Turkey has trained Somali troops since 2017 and provided Bayraktar TB2 drones to help fight terrorism. These drones, made by a company belonging to President Erdogan’s son-in-law, were used in the attacks. Turkish aid workers and security personnel in Somalia have faced attacks from Islamic militants. Amnesty’s inquiries to both Somali and Turkish authorities in April regarding the drone strikes did not yield responses. The United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) also did not answer Amnesty’s questions about US involvement in the strikes.