27th August, 2023
The U.S. military, acting on the request of Somali government, on Sunday said it believed it had killed 13 Al Shabaab militants in southern Somalia.
The Somali government and allied forces began a campaign a year ago that has pushed al Shabaab, an al Qaeda-linked group, out of parts of the centre of the country, although the group continues to carry out major attacks.
The U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) said it conducted an air strike on Saturday against al Shabaab near Seiera, about 45 km (28 miles) northwest of Kismayo, at the government’s request.
“The collective self-defense airstrike was conducted in the early morning hours of Aug. 26, in support of Somali National Army forces who were engaged by” al Shabaab, AFRICOM said in a statement.
“Working with the Somali National Army, U.S. Africa Command’s initial assessment is that the airstrike killed 13 al Shabaab fighters and that no civilians were injured or killed,” it added.
Somalia’s army and allied fighters on Friday captured the town of El Buur, al Shabaab militia’s main stronghold in the country’s central region, a significant breakthrough in the campaign.
However, many military analysts and those involved in the campaign have said that government vows to eliminate the group are unrealistic.