Source: Wikipedia Commons /  American drones such as the remotely piloted General Atomics MQ-1 Predator,  have been used primarily by the United States Air Force for counter-terror airstrikes in the Horn-of-African nation Somalia.

By Gary Raynaldo     DIPLOMATIC   TIMES

U.S. Africa Command  confirmed it conducted “a collective self-defense strike”  Tuesday against al-Shabaab fighters in the vicinity of Cammaara, Somalia.  AFRICOM said the airstrike was “conducted in coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia against al-Shabaab militants engaged in active combat with our Somali partners.”  A battle-damage assessment is still pending due to the ongoing engagement between al-Shabaab and Somali forces, AFRICOM said.  The command’s initial assessment is that no civilians were injured or killed as a result of this airstrike.  U.S. forces are authorized to conduct strikes in support of combatant commander-designated partner forces under the 2001 Authorization of Use for Military Force.   

 “The Federal Government of Somalia and the U.S. remain committed to fighting al-Shabaab to prevent the deaths of innocent civilians. Violent extremist organizations like al-Shabaab present long-term threats to the U.S. and regional interests.”

-AFRICOM 

AFRICOM   Army Gen. Stephen Townsend ordered July airstrike  against Al-Shabaab in Somalia 

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)  

On July 20,   Army Gen. Stephen Townsend ordered an airstrike against Al-Shabaab in Somalia. Gen. Townsend is Commander of U.S. Africa Command, according to the Pentagon.    The airstrike was the first such military action against the Horn of Africa nation under the administration under President Biden.   The July military action was conducted in the vicinity of Galkayo, Somalia. 

During a Pentagon press briefing in July following the military action, 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