The U.S. beginning of the week refuted of losing three of its soldiers in a terror attack northwest of the Somali capital, Mogadishu, on Friday.
The U.S. Africa Command (AFICOM) downplayed Al-Shabaab claims through its pro-media that its fighters had killed three U.S. soldiers in an attack on a military base at Baledogle on Feb. 15.
According to AFRICOM spokesman Christopher P. Karns, no U.S. casualties were reported after an airfield at Baledogle, Somalia, received indirect fire Feb. 15. “The terrorist group al-Shabab falsely claimed it killed three U.S. soldiers in the attack.”
Karns noted that there is an uptick in instances where militants resort to making false claims to the press.
Al-Shabaab had claimed that its fighters fired mortar rounds, killing three American soldiers and five Somali members of a special commando, whose training base is at Baledogle, about 95 kms northwest of Mogadishu.
Karns said persistent pressure has been placed on Al-Shabaab by the federal government of Somalia, its forces, and partners in an effort to degrade its network in a renewed resolve to stabilize Somalia and the region.
U.S., Somali and African Union forces have increased ground and air offensives against the Al-Qaeda-linked militant group in the last few months.
