US Military Kills Al-Shabaab Fighter In Southern Somalia
At least one al-Shabaab militant has been killed following an airstrike in an al-Shabaab stronghold area in Southern Somalia.
At least one al-Shabaab militant has been killed following an airstrike in an al-Shabaab stronghold area in Southern Somalia.
In a statement, U.S. Africa Command said in coordination with the Somali government, US military conducted an airstrike targeting an al-Shabaab terrorist near Jilib town.
The attack happened on Sunday, according to the statement.
“Al-Shabaab is an al-Qaeda affiliate seeking to further its jihadist agenda,” said U.S. Army Maj. Gen. William Gayler, director of operations, U.S. Africa Command.
The military said the initial assessment concluded the airstrike killed one terrorist.
“Removal of even one terrorist makes the region and the U.S. safer. Continuous pressure on the network is necessary to prevent al-Shabaab from building a safe haven and exporting violence,” Gen. William.
The statement further noted that “We currently assess no civilians were injured or killed as a result of this airstrike.”
U.S. Africa Command vowed that it will continue to work with its partners to transfer the responsibility for long-term security in Somalia to the Federal Government of Somalia and its Member States.
“In support of the Federal Government of Somalia, U.S. forces will use all effective and appropriate methods to assist in the protection of the Somali people, including partnered military counterterrorism operations with the Federal Government of Somalia and Somali National Army forces,” AFRICOM said.
The attack comes barely four after the US military bombed al-Shabaab bases in the same vicinity in southern Somalia.
The drones belonging US military have destroyed a camp in Jilib town.
“In the early morning of 29 January, The Federal Government of Somalia in coordination with and supported by the US Government conducted an airstrike inside the al-Shabaab-controlled city of Jilib. One al-Shabaab occupied compound was destroyed in the strike,” the statement reads in part.
Yesterday’s attack is third in less than a week with the first one happened on the 27th of last month.
