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. (Source: Creative Commons)
By Gary Raynaldo – DIPLOMATIC TIMES
A U.S. airstrike against Al Shabaab killed 12 militants southwest of Hobyo, Somalia in the Horn of Africa last Friday, AFRICOM confirmed. The strike occurred in a remote area approximately 45 km southwest of Hobyo, and about 472 km northeast of Mogadishu, according to AFRICOM. “Given the remote location of the operation, the command assesses that no civilians were injured or killed,” the Command said in a statement issued. AFRICOM said Somalia remains central to stability and security in all of East Africa. “U.S. Africa Command’s forces train, advise, and assist partner forces to help give them the tools they need to defeat al-Shabaab, the largest and most deadly al-Qaeda network in the world,” the Command added.
“U.S. Africa Command will continue to assess the results of this operation and will provide additional information as appropriate. Specific details about the units involved and assets used will not be released in order to ensure operations security. The Federal Government of Somalia and U.S. Africa Command will continue to take great measures to prevent civilian casualties.”
-AFRICOM said in a statement.
U.S. Airstrikes in SOMALIA Rise Sharply Under President Biden
In coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia, U.S. Africa Command conducted two airstrikes in Somalia on Jan. 1, 2021. The U.S. Biden administration on Jul 20, 2021 carried out its first airstrike in Somaila (credit: africom.mil)
In December 2020, the Trump administration ordered the withdrawal of more than 700 U.S. troops from Somalia by early 2021. The Biden administration resumed military activity inside Somalia in the first quarter of 2022. President Biden’s Department of Defense has since been striking hard against Shabaab, al Qaeda’s branch in East Africa. By early June 2022, the Pentagon conducted at least eight airstrikes in Somalia. US air strikes in Somalia increased 30 percent in 2022. Last month, a U.S. airstrike against Al Shabaab killed 30 jihadists northeast of Mogadishu near Galcad, Somalia.
