The United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) has announced
that it conducted two airstrikes in support of the Federal Government of Somalia
targeting al Shabaab militants. The airstrikes were conducted near Jilib in
Middle Juba region of Somalia a region that has notable
presence of the terror organization affiliated to al Qaeda.
AFRICOM conducted the airstrikes to increase pressure on the al-Shabaab network
and degrade its ability to plot and conduct operations. However, due to
strategic military and tactic reason,s the number of al Shabaab militants
killed has not been released nor the damages inflicted.
Airstrikes mainly focus on central and south Somalia because al Shabaab uses portions of the region to plot and direct terror attacks, steal humanitarian aid, extort the local populace to fund its operations, and shelter radical terrorists.
