Saturday June 3, 2023
Kismayo (HOL) - The United States conducted an airstrike on al-Shabab militants in Somalia, killing three al-Shabaab terrorists in the Lower Jubba region, the U.S. Africa Command said on Friday.
The U.S. military forces on Thursday "conducted a collective self-defence strike" in support of the Somalia National Army forces in the Wayanta area, located approximately 60 km southwest of the strategic southern port city of Kismayo.
"Military actions are just one part of the Federal Government of Somalia's efforts to comprehensively address their security challenges," Africom said in the statement.
Africom said its initial assessment is that no civilians were injured or killed.
The latest airstrike came amid intensified onslaught against al-Shabaab since Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud declared an all-out war against the militants last year.
The U.S. is one of several countries providing humanitarian aid, stabilization efforts, economic development, and military assistance to the Federal Government of Somalia in their ongoing campaign.
The U.S. has provided ongoing support to the Somali government since President Joe Biden approved a Pentagon request to redeploy U.S. troops to the area in an attempt to counter the terrorist group in May 2022. The approval to send fewer than 500 troops was a reversal of former President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw all U.S. troops from the country in 2020.