Credit: wikipedia / A Predator drone.  U.S. airstrikes targeting Islamist militants  in Horn of Africa nation Somalia have increased dramatically under Trump Administration. American drones such as the remotely piloted General Atomics MQ-1 Predator,  have been used primarily by the U.S. Air Force for counter-terror airstrikes in the Horn-of-African nation Somalia.

By Gary Raynaldo     DIPLOMATIC  TIMES

A U.S. airstrike in northern Somalia Tuesday killed seven fighters from the Islamic State, U.S. Africa Command said. The strike was conducted after the militants reportedly attacked an area where American troops were advising and assisting partner troops.  “In coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia, U.S. Africa Command conducted an airstrike against ISIS-Somalia terrorists after they attacked partner forces in a remote location near Timirshe, Somalia, July 21, AFRICOM said in a statement.  Timirshe is located 140 kilometers southeast of Bosasso.  AFRICOM confimed the airstrike killed seven 7 ISIS-Somalia terrorists, and assessed that no civilians were injured or killed as a result of the strikes.

“We continue to apply pressure on terrorist groups and assist our Somali partners in disrupting their operations. We continue our support to rid Somalia of the likes of ISIS and al-Shabaab.”

-U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Miguel Castellanos, deputy director of operations, AFRICOM

The US has been conducting air attack in Somalia for years to help defeat extremist group al-Shabab, which seeks to topple Somalia’s western-backed central government and set up its own rule based on strict interpretation of the Islamic sharia law.

US Military Admits Killing Civilians in Somalia Counter-Terror Airstrike

The US goal in Somalia is to weaken al-Shabab militarily in order to foster a political settlement,  according to senior officials of AFRICOM.  The airstrikes are not without controversy, as there have been reports of civilian casualties.  The Pentagon acknowledged in April that a military strike in Somalia more than a year ago killed two civilians and injured three more.  Many accuse the US of playing down and/or disputing civilian deaths.   AFRICOM made the surprise admission concerning civilian casualties in its campaign against al-Shabaab. As part of the command’s commitment to transparency, Africom is implementing a quarterly report on the status of ongoing and completed civilian casualty allegations and assessments. It is only the second time in recent years Africom has admitted civilian casualties in Somalia in association with airstrikes.