The United States military has conducted its third airstrike against al Shabaab in Somalia in less than two weeks in support of the Somali military. The airstrike was conducted in the vicinity of Qeycad, in the central Galmudug state.
SNA had earlier reported the strike was in an area where federal and U.S.-trained forces were fighting the militants. There was no word on whether militants were injured or killed.
However, preliminary intelligence indicates that the airstrike destroyed a huge firing position maintained by the militants who had been engaging Danab and SNA forces as they approached.
The fighting in the region has been ongoing and as the support from the US is welcomed some civilians have previously voiced concerns that the pause in U.S. airstrikes was serving to embolden al-Shabab. The halt in the strikes had reportedly been allowing key leaders to come out of hiding and their fighters to mass in larger numbers without fear.
