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 against Al Shabaab in the southeastern Lower Shabelle region in Somalia  Thursday killed one jihadist,  U.S. Africa Command said. In coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia, U.S. AFRICOM conducted an airstrike targeting one terrorist in the vicinity of Kurtun Warey, Somalia. According to AFRICOM, the terrorist, who has a history of working with explosives, was making preparations to emplace Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) on a public road.  The command’s initial assessment concluded this airstrike killed one (1) terrorist and destroyed one motorcycle.

“Al-Shabaab continues to put Somali people in danger by ruthlessly attempting to place explosive devices in public  areas. These extremists continue to terrorize Somali citizens without regard for their safety.”

-said U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Joel Tyler, AFRICOM director of operations.

U.S. Africa Command currently assesses no civilians were injured or killed as a result of the airstrike. “U.S. Africa Command and our international partners recognize that stability in Somalia will not be achieved through purely military means. It requires providing programs and opportunity for the Somali people,” AFRICOM said in a statement.

US Military Admits Killing Civilians in Past 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.