At least nine (9) Al-Shabaab terrorists have been killed in the latest U.S. airstrikes in Somalia. U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) confirmed of a second airstrike this week that killed five (5) Al-Shabaab terrorists, just one day after another airstrike conducted in Lower Shabelle region killed other four (4) terrorists.
Initial assessment by AFRICOM indicate that the airstrike, which did not kill or injure any civilians or others, took place in Janaale vicinity, Somalia on Tuesday. Also, the airstrike that killed four Al-Qaeda affiliated terrorists was conducted in Janaale vicinity on Monday. Janaale lies about 70 km (44 miles) southwest of Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, in the country’s Lower Shabelle region
Last week, U.S. carried out three separate airstrikes and killed six terrorists, in addition wounded several others.
U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Miguel A. Castellanos, the deputy director of operations underscored that, U.S. will continue to work closely with allied partners by taking decisive action in putting pressure on their network and subsequently eliminate them in Somalia.
This was 22nd airstrike targeting Al-Shabaab militants in Somalia so far, this year and the highest within a similar period in the previous years and encounters indicating of stepped up operations against the extremist network. Mostly the airstrikes are targeted in remote villages in southern and central Somalia where the group still maintains control.
U.S. military forces conducted more than 60 airstrikes in Somalia during 2019, setting a record. They previously conducted 47 airstrikes in 2018 and 35 in 2017.
