Somali and the United States forces said on Tuesday they conducted an airstrike targeting al-Shabab in the militants’ strongholds in southern Somalia on Monday.
The U.S. Africa Command, which has in the past conducted counterterrorism strikes against the terror group in Somalia, said the latest strike destroyed one al-Shabab compound in Jilib region.
“Initial assessments conclude one al-Shabab facility was destroyed as a result of this airstrike. We currently assess no civilians were injured or killed as a result of this airstrike,” Africom said in a statement.
“It is important to counter this al-Qaida-aligned group’s ability and intent to plan and carry out attacks in Somalia and more broadly. This precision strike does just that,” said Miguel Castellanos, deputy director of operations of Africom.
The U.S. forces, in cooperation with the Somali government and African Union Peacekeeping Mission, have been conducting operations against al-Shabab in Somalia to degrade the al-Qaida affiliate’s ability to recruit, train and plot external attacks throughout the region and in America. Enditem
