Military strikes conducted earlier this week near Kanjaron village were conducted by U.S. forces in Somalia, U.S. AFRICOM has confirmed.
According to the military source, the air raids outside the village killed Al-Shabaab former commander alongside three other fighters.
Referenced by Somalia media, Somalia military sources identified the slain commander as Bashir Dhere, a former al-Shabab deputy militia commander in the Lower Jubba region.
Military Intelligence (MI) reports further reveal that Bashir Dhere recently operated in an Al-Shabaab controlled locality west of sea port city of Kismayo.
U.S. AFRICOM issued a statement saying the four were killed in 'self-defense' airstrikes after extremists attacked Somali troops and their U.S. assets outside the port city of Kismayo.
U.S. AFRICOM noted that the strikes took place in an area that has seen increased confrontations between SNA, AU forces supported by U.S. assets.
U.S. in the recent past operations in the area appear to be an effort aimed at giving Somali National Army, a real practical experience in carrying out and fighting commando operations against militant forces, military sources say.
These joint military operations have targeted taxation checkpoints and lower profile Al-Shabaab militants.
