On April 1, 2018, 22-year-old Luul Dahir Mohamed and her 4-year-old daughter, Mariam, were killed in a U.S. drone strike in rural Somalia. Their deaths were the result of a tragic mistake—one rooted in flawed intelligence, rushed decisions, and the failure to properly identify civilian targets.

That morning, Luul planned a visit to her brother’s home with Mariam. Unable to reach her brother by phone, Luul accepted a ride in a maroon Toyota pickup with some local men. As they drove, her brother, Qasim Dahir Mohamed, unknowingly passed the same truck. He saw his sister and niece in the passenger seat, but couldn’t catch up with them due to a malfunctioning phone. Moments later, a deadly drone strike hit the vehicle.

The U.S. military’s investigation into the strike revealed a shocking series of errors. In their rush to target suspected militants, a Special Operations task force mistakenly identified the passengers—two civilians—as potential threats. The Americans failed to recognize the woman and child, even though they had been carefully tracking the vehicle. The strike, which was conducted under loosened rules of engagement approved by the Trump administration, killed Luul and Mariam without hesitation or remorse.

After the attack, Qasim desperately tried to call his sister, but it was too late. The local community soon learned that a drone had hit a pickup carrying mattresses and civilians. When Qasim reached the site, he found his sister and niece dead, victims of a senseless act.

The Pentagon’s investigation acknowledged the tragic loss of life, but no one was held accountable. Despite numerous pleas from Luul’s family, the U.S. government never offered compensation or an apology for their devastating mistake. Luul’s story serves as a painful reminder of the risks civilians face in conflict zones, where even the most innocent are often caught in the crossfire of distant, misunderstood wars.

Luul Dahir’s death—along with her daughter’s—remains a stark example of how flawed intelligence and a lack of accountability can lead to irreparable loss. It is a story of a mother and child whose lives were taken by a government that failed to see them as human, but as mere casualties in an endless war.