US military drone raids target Al-Shabaab in central Somalia

It's the third operation by AFRICOM in Somalia since Biden authorized the re-deployment of American forces to the country in May 2020.

News Keydmedia Online
10 August 2022

MOGADISHU, Somalia - The U.S. military says it carried out three drone strikes in central Somalia on Tuesday, the 9th of August targeting the Al-Qaeda-linked Al-Shabaab group.

The U.S. Africa Command [AFRICOM] announced in a statement on Wednesday that four Al-Shabaab militants died in the operation which took place in an undisclosed location in the Hiran region.

In coordination with and in support of the Federal Government of Somalia, U.S. Africa Command conducted three airstrikes against al-Shabaab terrorists who attacked Somali National Army Forces near Beledweyne, Somalia, on August 9, 2022," reads the statement in part.

The command’s initial assessment confirmed that no civilians were injured or killed. U.S. forces were authorized by Biden in May to conduct strikes in defense of designated partner forces. 

Violent extremist organizations like al-Shabaab present long-term threats to Somali, regional, and U.S. interests," added AFRICOM.

The aerial bombardments come to U.S. Africa Command welcomed a new leader, Marine Corps Gen. Michael Langley became the sixth commander since the command was established in 2008.

Langley replaces General Stephen J. Townsend, who led U.S. Africa Command since July 2019, and retires after a U.S. Army career spanning four decades.

It's the third operation by AFRICOM in Somalia since Biden authorized the re-deployment of U.S. forces to the country in May 2022, days after Hassan Sheikh's election as president.

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