On Sunday, the US military is said to have bombed a building in central Somalia, killing 12 al-Shabab extremists.
The “collective self-defense” strike took place on February 10 “at the request of the Federal Government of Somalia,” according to a statement from the U.S. Africa Command, often known as AFRICOM.
According to the statement, the strike took place in a rural area 472 kilometres (293 miles) northeast of Mogadishu, roughly 45 kilometres (28 miles) southwest of the coastal town of Hobyo on the Indian Ocean.
The location was not given by AFRICOM, but according to Somali government media, it happened in Donlaye, close to Amara town in Galmudug state. In the operation on Friday, 117 militants, according to the Somali administration, were slain.
According to official media reports, the terrorists were engaged in trench warfare with Somali government forces, according to Brigadier General Mohamed Tahlil Bihi, the infantry commander of the Somali national army. He also acknowledged that during the gunbattle with Somali soldiers, an airstrike had struck the insurgents.
According to AFRICOM, the strike occurred in a distant area, and it was determined that no civilians were hurt or killed.
READ ALSO: Over Lake Huron, the US shoots down an “unidentified object.”
The statement added, “U.S. Africa Command will continue to evaluate the results of this operation and will provide additional information as necessary.” “To ensure the confidentiality of operations, specific information about the units involved and the equipment employed will not be disclosed.”
Leaders from the region promise to aid Somalia in its fight against Al-Shabab.
The U.S. military has struck Somalia three times this year in the name of “collective self-defense.”
The previous two attacks took place on January 20 near Galcad town and killed two militants, while about 30 al-Shabab fighters were killed on January 23 near Harardhere town.
Two militants are killed in a US military strike in Somalia.
In addition, on January 26, the United States carried out a counterterrorism operation that resulted in the death of Bilal al-Sudani, a crucial commander of the Islamic State’s Somalia branch, in the Cal-Miskaad mountains of the Puntland semi-autonomous area.
Military actions by the Somali government have been carried out to retake territory from al-Shabab. The Somali army has been receiving air support from the governments of the United States and Turkey.
Elite Somali forces that have led recent military operations are being trained by both governments.
