US-assisted raid on Al-Shabaab stronghold kills 20 militants

The airstrike becomes the second since Biden authorized the re-deployment of hundreds of U.S. special operations soldiers to Somalia in May this year.

News Keydmedia Online
26 July 2022

MOGADISHU, Somalia - At least 20 militants were killed on Monday night during a U.S.-assisted covert operation on a key Al-Shabaab base in southern Somalia, military officials said.

U.S. military drones fired a number of missiles on Toratorow, a town that lies about 120 km southwest of Mogadishu allowing partner Somalia's elite Danab forces to enter Al-Shabaab camps.

At least two missiles dropped by U.S. drones hit the Al-Shabaab checkpoint in the town and then a direct gunfight has begun after Danab forces landed from a helicopter," said a villager who spoke to Keydmedia Online via phone on condition of anonymity. 

The Danab soldiers estimated 50 personnel have conducted the operation against the Al-Shabaab base with the support of their American allied forces who recently returned to Somalia to resume the counter-terrorism after one year.

The airstrike becomes the second since Biden authorized the re-deployment of hundreds of U.S. special operations soldiers to Somalia in May this year, days after the election of Hassan Sheikh as the 10th president of the Horn of Africa nation.

A statement from the Somalia government said the raid destroyed an Al-Shabaab court in the town. There was no immediate reaction by Al-Shabaab regarding the claims.

The state media reported that there were no civilian casualties from the operation that led to the killing of 20 Al-Shabaab members.

KEYDMEDIA English