US military targets Al-Shabaab in central Somalia

The US military has conducted at least 25 air strikes in Somalia this year [Isaac Brekken/Getty]

MOGADISHU, Somalia - The US Africa Command on Tuesday waged a rare airstrike against the Al-Shabaab militants in central Somalia, in a move that signifies cooperation with the Somalia partners, despite the January 2021 shock withdrawal from that Horn of Africa nation.

Former President Donald Trump withdrew US Africa Command troops from Somalia as a strategy to save costs, but the move has been met with a lot of resistance from both the opposition and the outgoing government of Somalia.

In a statement, US Africa Command confirmed the third airstrike under the administration of Joe Biden, who is reportedly keen to redeploy US troops to Somalia. The incident took place in Amaara town within the Mudug region in Galmadug.

U.S. forces are authorized to conduct strikes in support of combatant commander-designated partner forces under the 2001 Authorization of Use for Military Force, the command said in the statement.

"A battle-damage assessment is still pending due to the ongoing engagement between al-Shabaab and Somali forces. The command’s initial assessment is that no civilians were injured or killed as a result of this airstrike," read the statement.

"The Federal Government of Somalia and U.S. Africa Command forces take great measures to prevent civilian casualties. These efforts contrast with the indiscriminate attacks that al-Shabaab regularly conducts against the civilian population."

Although the exact number of casualties was not immediate, the Somali National Army [SNA] claimed dozens of the militants were killed. Initial reports showed that the militants had targeted the SNA base in the region, leading to fierce clashes.

In response, the US Africa Command activated its drone, targeting the militants within the town on Tuesday. The US is reportedly conducting the airstrikes from neighboring Kenya or Djibouti, where most of the soldiers retreated after withdrawal from Somalia.

The Federal Government of Somalia and the U.S. remain committed to fighting al-Shabaab to prevent the deaths of innocent civilians, the command noted. Violent extremist organizations like al-Shabaab present long-term threats to the U.S. and regional interests, it adds.

Joe Biden has indicated the possibility of redeploying the troops to Somalia in the fight against Al-Shabaab. But currently, s number of US Special Forces are stationed in Wajir, Kenya where they are helping the Kenya Defense Forces [KDF] in the Al-Shabaab war.

GAROWE ONLINE