MOGADISHU (Halbeeg News) – The US government has claimed the responsibility for an airstrike against al-Shabaab fighters in central Somalia barely two days the first aerial attack against the group happened in a village near Galkayo town.
Pentagon press secretary John Kirby confirmed that US forces conducted an airstrike against Al-Shabaab in the vicinity of Qeycad, some 300 miles (500 kilometers) north of the capital Mogadishu.
Friday’s strike supported partner forces “under collective self-defense,” Kirby said, adding that U.S. troops were not on the ground with Somali forces but were conducting a remote advise and assist mission with them.
Further information was not provided due to “operational security.”
Meanwhile, Somali government on Friday confirmed that a second airstrike had targeted al-Shabaab in central region of the horn of Africa nation
“Al-Shabab’s tactics are no match for the Danab (Somali special forces) and its partners,” the government said in a statement, adding, further describing the strike as having a “crippling” impact on the Shabab fighters.
Last Tuesday, an airstrike claimed by US government had destroyed al-Shabaab militant base in a village near Galkayo, a town located 700 kilometers northeast of Mogadishu.
The air strike was the first one against al-Shabaab fighters in Somalia since Biden assumed office six months ago.
The U.S. carried out 63 airstrikes against al-Shabaab in 2019 and 53 airstrikes in 2020.
Another seven airstrikes were launched in the first two-and-a-half weeks of 2021, before former U.S. President Donald Trump left office.
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