Army Gen. Stephen Townsend, Commander, U.S. Africa Command provides testimony the Senate Armed Services Apr. 22, 2021 Washington D.C. (Photo U.S. Africa Command) 

By Gary Raynaldo   DIPLOMATIC  TIMES

WASHINGTON    DC  –  The Pentagon confirmed that Army Gen. Stephen Townsend ordered an airstrike this week against Al-Shabaab in Somalia. Gen. Townsend is Commander of U.S. Africa Command.  The airstrike was the first such military action against the Horn of Africa nation under the administration under President Biden.  In coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia, U.S. Africa Command forces conducted one airstrike in the vicinity of Galkayo, Somalia, Africom reported.  During a Pentagon press briefing on Wednesday, a reporter asked if the  airstrike was authorized by the White House, or if President Biden lifted the instruction to always go through the  White House  before striking Somalia.  

“The strike…was ordered by General Townsend under his existing authorities to act in — in the defense of our Somali partners, who were under attack by Al-Shabaab. He had all — he had the authorities to do this. He ordered this on his own-under his own authority to do so, and he didn’t need to — to ask permission to — to conduct that strike.”

-Pentagon Press Secretary  John Kirby

(Photo by Gary Raynaldo   ©Diplomatic Times)  Pentagon Press Secretary   John Kirby at briefing with reporters at the Pentagon in Washington D.C.

A battle-damage assessment is still pending due to the ongoing engagement between al-Shabaab and Somali forces, however the command’s initial assessment is that no civilians were injured or killed as a result of this strike as the strike targeted known al-Shabaab fighters and took place in a remote area, Africom said in a statement.  There were no U.S. forces accompanying Somali forces during the operation.

“This strike was conducted under collective self-defense authority and targeted al-Shabaab fighters engaged in active combat with our Somali partners. We are committed to supporting our Somali partners as they fight against these terrorists.”

-U.S. Marine Corps Brig. Gen. Thomas Savage, U.S. Africa Command deputy director of operations said. 

Violent extremist organizations like al-Shabaab present long-term threats to U.S. and regional interests, according to Africom.

Trump Administration Also Conducted Military Airstrikes in Somalia 

In coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia, U.S. Africa Command conducted two airstrikes in Somalia on Jan. 1, 2021.  (credit: africom.mil)

The last U.S. airstrike against Al Shabaab  in Somalia was Jan. 19, just before Biden was inaugurated as President, which killed three jihadists in the vicinities of Jamaame and Deb Scinnele.  The US goal in Somalia is to weaken al-Shabab militarily in order to foster a political settlement,  according to senior officials of AFRICOM.