The U.S. military forces conducted an airstrike in the vicinity of Dara Salaam, Lower Shabelle region of Somalia on Monday after Somali troops and its accompanying US military advisers came under attack from Al-Shabaab militants.
According to U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) which oversees US military operations in Africa, the strike killed eight (8) Al-Shabaab militants. AFRICOM confirmed that all U.S. and their partner forces were accounted for, unharmed.
The U.S. which has approximately 500 troops in Somali has scaled-up air operations in support of Federal Government of Somalia bid to defeat the Al-Qaeda affiliate, Al-Shabaab.
At least 244 fighters from the al Qaeda-affiliated Al-Shabaab have been killed in 25 airstrikes so far in 2019, according to figures released by US Africa Command.
In all of 2018, the U.S. conducted 47 airstrikes targeting Al-Shabaab, killing about 338 militants. In 2017, the U.S. conducted 35 air raids, and in 2016 it conducted 15.
