The United States says it carried out an airstrike against al-Shabaab militants on Thursday, killing four militants of the extremists group.
The strike – the first by the U.S. in 2018 – was conducted approximately 50 kilometers northwest of Kismayo.
“In coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia, U.S. forces conducted an airstrike against al-Shabaab militants on Jan. 18, approximately 50 kilometers northwest of Kismayo, killing four (4) terrorists,” The U.S. Africa Command said in a statement.
Al-Shabaab has waged a decade-long war in the Horn of African country, seeking to topple the government and instill an extreme sharia-based system of governance.
The war has killed thousands and displaced millions others while crippling Somalia’s development in that period.
Last year, U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration gave permission to troops to conduct more raids against militants in Somalia.
AFRICOM’s statement said the U.S. would continue “using all authorized and appropriate measures to protect U.S. citizens and to disable terrorist threats.”
It added that it would continue partnering with AMISOM and Somali National Security Forces (SNSF) to wage a war against al-Shabaab to ensure the group is crushed.
Read statement here: US AFRICOM
