The United States military has confirmed of conducting precision airstrikes in Somalia killing 55 Al-Shabaab terrorists in two days.
In support of Federal government of Somalia U.S. conducted another fresh airstrike targeting an Al-Shabaab encampment in the vicinity of Shebeleey, Hiran region of Somalia on February 25, 2019. The airstrike killed 20 Al-Shabaab fighters after another airstrike in central Somalia killed 35.
According to U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Gregory Hadfield, U.S. Africa Command deputy director of intelligence, the intensified air campaigns are aimed at degrading the Al-Qaeda linked Al-Shabaab’s ability to plan and execute attacks against the Somali citizenry.
Brig. Gen. Hadfield highlighted that the airstrike destroyed an Al-Shabaab training encampment that was used as a staging pad to launch attacks on Beledweyne.
The U.S. Africa Command assessment indicates that the airstrike killed 20 terrorists and destroyed one vehicle. No civilians were injured or killed in this airstrike.
The U.S. has carried out 23 strikes this year. However, authorities and security experts acknowledge that it will take more than airstrikes to defeat the extremist group, which still holds large parts of rural central and southern Somalia.
