The US forces says it conducted an airstrike in Somalia’s central region on Wednesday, killing 24 al-Shabaab militants.
The US Africa Command said on Thursday that the airstrikes were carried out near a terrorist encampment location in the vicinity of Shebeeley, Hiran Region, in coordination with local Somali forces.
“We are partnered with the Federal Government of Somalia, and other international partners, to protect the people of Somalia,” said Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Gregg Olson, U.S. Africa Command director of operations. “Precision strikes are part of our strategy. Strikes continue to help our partners make progress in their fight against the transnational terrorists who oppose peace in Somalia and in the region.”
AFRICOM said in a statement that no civilians were killed or injured in the strike.
The force pledged to continue collaborating with Somali forces to disable the threat of terrorism posed by al-Shabaab.
The al-Qaeda affiliated group has waged an extremist war in Somalia for over a decade, killing tens of thousands and displacing millions others.
The U.S. forces and African Union troops have been deployed in the Horn of African country to battle the militant group. While the U.S. initially engaged the militants minimally, President Donald Trump granted broader authority to carry out strikes after coming into power.
Al-Shabaab Degraded by U.S., Federal Government of Somalia – https://t.co/0IEbvQNpWU pic.twitter.com/QMDljZVBBi
— US AFRICOM (@USAfricaCommand) January 31, 2019
