U.S. Africa Command has resumed airstrike operations against the Al-Qaeda associated Al-Shabaab in Somalia. In its latest operation, AFRICOM launched the latest airstrike against Al-Shabaab terrorists in a remote location near Duduble, Somalia on February 22.
U.S. forces are authorized to conduct strikes in support of the Federal Government of Somalia troops against the Islamist terrorists that have waged insurgency in Somalia for close to two decades.
The battle-damage assessment of the latest airstrike (BDA) is still pending. However, the command’s initial assessment is that no civilians were injured or killed as a result of this airstrike.
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 militant persistently conducts against the civilian targets.
The resumption of airstrikes in Somalia would be key towards disrupting Al-Shabaab much increased activity; movements and buildup from across the regions of central and southern Somalia. Violent extremist organizations like Al-Shabaab present long-term threats to the U.S. and regional interests and as such concerted counterterrorism operations against the group much needed.
