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 10 militants north of Kismayo,  in Horn of Africa nation Somalia Saturday,  AFRICOM confirmed. The strike occurred in a remote area near Afmadow, approximately 105 kilometers north of Kismayo.  AFRICOM said that , at the request of  the Federal Government of Somalia, the U.S.  conducted three collective self-defense airstrikes overnight in the area against the militants. The airstrike was in support of Somali National Army forces who were engaged by the terrorist organization, according to AFRICOM.  U.S. Africa Command’s initial assessment is  the U.S. airstrike killed 10 al-Shabaab terrorists and that no civilians were injured or killed. AFRICOM said Somalia remains central to stability and security in all of East Africa.

“U.S. Africa Command’s forces will continue training, advising, and equipping partner forces to give them the tools that they need to degrade al-Shabaab. 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.”

-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.