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Al-Shabaab has lost key leaders in the US airstrikes, including its leader Ahmed Godane and founder Aden Ayro.

Al-Shabaab continues to pose a threat to the country's security and entire East Africa as the group raids Kenya, Ethiopia, and Uganda.

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

Biden in May approved a Pentagon request to send American troops back to Somalia after seeing rising Al-Shabaab threats in the Horn of Africa.

Last month, Biden approved a Patnagaton request to redeploy the US troops to Somalia to help local and AU forces in the fight against Al-Shabaab.

Al-Shabab "has unfortunately only grown stronger," a senior U.S. official told reporters. "It has increased the tempo of its attacks, including against U.S. personnel."

US officials have suggested that the final decision on whether to send troops to Somalia “had taken time because of Biden’s caution over sending US troops into a conflict zone”, The Guardian reported.

In the past, human rights groups Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have faulted the outcome of Africom’s probes claiming that they are inadequate and result in zero accountability.

And Larry Andre, US Ambassador to Somalia held a series of interviews with local media where he said Washington’s policy on Somalia will not change in spite of the trip.

Ahmed Gurey took part in attacks against Ethiopian forces in southern Somalia during the rule of the Islamic courts’ union in 2017 before the emergence of Al-Shabaab in 2008.

AFRICOM added that the operation was conducted by the US military in coordination with the Somali Government. The statement didn’t confirm any casualties on Al-Shabaab and the civilians.

Beledweyne, which lies 350 kilometers north of the capital, Mogadishu serves as the regional capital of Hiran and the city has been hosting clashes between local militia against HirShabelle leader and SNA.