Somalia: U.S. Airstrike in Southern Somalia kills 1 militant

KISMAYO, Somalia - U.S. African Command (AFRICOM) says at least 1 militant was killed in an airstrike against Al Shabaab in Southern Somalia on Saturday, Nov 11, Garowe Online reports.

AFRICOM said in a statement the attack was carried out by U.S. forces, with the support of Somali National Army (SNA) at Gaduud area, about 250Km miles southwest of Mogadishu at around 4:30 p.m.

U.S. forces observed the al-Shabaab combatant participating in attacks on a U.S. and Somali convoy and afterwards conducted the raid under collective self-defence authorities, read the statement seen by GO.

GO has learned, citing local residents that the raid took place near Sanguuni Village, north of Bula-Gadud town, both located on the outskirts of the port city of Kismayo, some 500Km south of Mogadishu.

Al Shabaab has joined Al Qaeda in 2012, and invited foreign jihadists in Somalia to fight against the UN-backed Federal government protected by African Union forces (AMISOM).

The militant group was flushed out of large swathes of territories in Southern Somalia, including the capital in 2011 by Somali and AMISOM forces, but, it still controls parts of the horn of Africa country.

U.S. said the group poses threat to its interests in East Africa and as well as its partners in the region.

AFRICOM said U.S. forces will continue to use all authorized and appropriate measures to protect Americans and to disable terrorist threats, targeting Al Shabaab camps throughout Somalia.

Saturday's airstrike at Gaduud was the 4th attack in Somalia, killing nearly 100 militants. In March 2017, Trump granted U.S. military broader authority to conduct aerial attacks in Somalia to wipe out Al Shabaab.

GAROWE ONLINE