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

A U.S. airstrike against Al Shabaab killed 15 jihadists last week who were attacking Somali National Army forces near Cadale, Somalia,  AFRICOM confirmed. In support of the Federal Government of Somalia’s ongoing operations against al-Shabaab, US AFRICOM conducted a collective self-defense strike against al-Shabaab terrorists. AFRICOM reported that no civilians were injured or killed.  “U.S. Africa Command takes great measures to prevent civilian casualties. Protecting civilians remains a vital part of the command’s operations to promote a more secure and stable Africa,” AFRICOM said in a statement. The U.S. airstrikes came one week after at least 100 people were killed after two car bombs exploded near Somalia’s education ministry in the capital Mogadishu. Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud blamed al-Shabaab terrorists for the attack.

Al-Shabaab is the largest and most kinetically active al-Qaeda network in the world and has proved both its will and capability to attack partner and U.S. forces and threaten U.S. security interests, according to AFRICOM.  The U.S. military said Somalia remains key to the security environment in East Africa, and that its forces will continue training, advising, and equipping partner forces to give them the tools that they need to degrade al-Shabaab.

 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)

The Trump administration withdrew more than 700 U.S. troops from Somalia in early 2021. The Biden administration  resumed  military activity inside Somalia earlier this year.  President Biden’s Department of Defense has been striking hard against Shabaab, al Qaeda’s branch in East Africa during the past few months. Since early June, the Pentagon has conducted at least eight airstrikes in Somalia. AFRICOM confirmed that on September 18, a U.S. airstrike killed 27 al-Shabaab terrorists who were attacking Somali National Army forces near Buulobarde, Somalia.  On August 14, a U.S. airstrike killed 13 al-Shabaab fighters in a remote location near Teedaan, Somalia. On July 17, AFRICOM confirmed it conducted an airstrike that killed two al-Shabaab fighters in a remote location near Libikus, Somalia.