Somalia strike kills al-Shabaab fighter
U.S. forces killed one al-Shabaab fighter in an airstrike Saturday that was the latest use of new authorities granted to the military by President Trump, U.S. Africa Command (Africom) said Monday.
“Al-Shabaab has pledged allegiance to al Qaeda and is dedicated to providing safe haven for terrorist attacks throughout the world,” Africom said in a statement. “Al-Shabaab has publicly committed to planning and conducting attacks against the US and our allies.”
The strike happened at approximately 8 p.m. Saturday near the al-Shabaab stronghold of Tortoroow in southern Somalia, according to the statement.
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U.S. forces were working off actionable intelligence and conducted the strike “as a direct response to al-Shabaab actions, including recent attacks on Somali forces,” the statement said.
No civilians were killed in the strike, according to the statement, which provides no further details on the operation.
“We will continue to assess the results of the operation and will provide additional information as appropriate,” the statement said. “Specific details about the units involved and assets used will not be released in order to ensure operational security.”
A Somali intelligence official told The Associated Press that the target of the strike was Ali Mohamed Hussein, who has served as al-Shabaab’s shadow governor for the Somali capital of Mogadishu and has been one of the group’s most outspoken officials.
The official told the AP that at least one missile struck a car Hussein was traveling in and that one person was killed, though it’s unclear if it was Hussein.
The Africom statement specifies that Saturday’s strike was carried out under authorities granted to commanders by Trump earlier this year.
In March, Trump granted a request from Africom’s commander, Gen. Thomas Waldhauser, to give commanders more authority to conduct airstrikes and raids against al-Shabaab without high-level, interagency reviews.
U.S. forces have used those authorities in strikes earlier in July and June.
The United States has about 50 troops in Somalia helping local forces fight the al Qaeda-affiliated al-Shabaab. Prior to the new authorities, they were only allowed to carry out strikes in defense of partnered forces.