Somalia: US military raids Al-Shabaab near Jilib town, kills 1 militant

MOGADISHU, Somalia - The US military launched yet another airstrike in the vicinity of Jilib town, AFRICOM said, the sixteenth drone attack within this year.

Last month, AFRICOM also executed two airstrikes within the town, which is considered as the temporary headquarters for the militants.

In a statement, AFRICOM on Monday said the airstrike targeted Al-Shabaab operatives, who have been recruiting and training militants in the region

"Initial assessment concluded the airstrike killed one terrorist," AFRICOM said in a statement. "We currently assess no civilians were injured or killed as a result of this airstrike".

Previously, such airstrikes have left civilians dead, although AFRICOM has often maintained that the airstrikes are "carefully executed".

Of all the 16 airstrikes this year, most of them have been unleashed in central and southern Somalia, where the terrorists have seized several villages.

Army Brig. Gen. Miguel Castellanos, U.S. Africa Command deputy director of operations, said such airstrikes are aimed at completely degrading the militants.

“Our persistent actions against al-Shabaab ensures constant and continued pressure on this malign network,” Gen. Miguel said.

He added: “Our collective efforts help enhance security in the region and put al-Shabaab on notice, making both Somalia and the U.S. safer in the process.”

Al-Shabaab leadership has expressed its primary desire is to conduct attacks not just in East Africa, but against Americans and U.S. interests across the globe, AFRICOM said.

But the militants do not have the capacity to wage attacks against US Homeland due to pressure mounted on them by allied forces in Somalia, AFRICOM added.

As part of an international effort, U.S. Africa Command and U.S. interagency partners help support Somali-led efforts to counter and contain dangerous terrorist organizations from exporting violence more broadly, the military said.

For a decade now, Al-Shabaab militants have managed to kill over 4,000 civilians and security forces, in their bid to topple the fragile UN-backed Somalia government.

A report by the UN recently established that the militants have started deserting villages due to persistent airstrikes by the US army in interior parts of the country.

GAROWE ONLINE