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
WASHINGTON DC – U.S. Africa Command confirmed it conducted an airstrike that killed 13 al-Shabaab fighters in a remote location near Teedaan, Somalia on Sunday. The command’s initial assessment is that no civilians were injured or killed. U.S. forces are authorized to conduct strikes in defense of designated partner forces under the 2001 Authorization of Use for Military Force. AFRICOM said the airstrike was conducted in coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia against the militants that were actively attacking Somali National Army forces.
“The Federal Government of Somalia and U.S. Africa Command take great measures to prevent civilian casualties. These efforts contrast with the indiscriminate attacks that al-Shabaab regularly conducts against the civilian population. 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 Somali, regional and U.S. interests.”
-AFRICOM
U.S. Biden Administration Steps Up 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)
President Biden’s Department of Defense has been striking hard against Shabaab, al Qaeda’s branch in East Africa during the past few weeks. Since early June, the Pentagon has conducted at least six airstrikes in Somalia. On June 3, AFRICOM said it killed 5 Shabaab militants in a strike close to Beer Xani, another town near Kismayo in Somalia’s Lower Juba region. On July 17, AFRICOM confirmed it conducted an airstrike that killed two al-Shabaab fighters in a remote location near Libikus, Somalia. Just last week, AFRICOM said it conducted three airstrikes that killed four al-Shabaab terrorists who attacked Somali National Army Forces near Beledweyne, Somalia.
In coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia, U.S. Africa Command conducted two (2) airstrikes targeting al-Shabaab explosives experts in the vicinity of Jilib, Somalia, Dec. 10. 2020. (credit: africom.mil)
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 United States contends that no civilians were killed.
President Biden To Re-Deploy U.S. Forces to Horn of Africa Nation SOMALIA
In May 2022, President Biden authorized the Department of Defense to re-deploy U.S. troops into Horn of Africa nation Somalia to battle al-Shabab. President Donald Trump ordered the withdrawal of nearly all US troops from Somalia during his final days in office. In March, ranking Republican member of the Senate Armed Armed Services Committee Sen. Jim Inhofe called on the Pentagon to consider re-deploying U.S. troops to Somalia to counter the sharp rise in extremist activity by al Qaeda-linked Al Shabaab terrorist group. The US had about 700 troops in the country helping local forces battle al-Shabab and Islamic State militants.
