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
WASHINGTON DC – A U.S. airstrike against Al Shabaab killed five militants in Somalia Tuesday, AFRICOM confirmed. The U.S. said it conducted a “collective self-defense” airstrike in a remote area near Cali Heele, approximately 244 kilometers North East of the Horn of Africa nation’s capital Mogadishu against al-Shabaab terrorists. According to AFRICOM, the airstrike was in support of Somali National Army forces who were engaged by the terrorist organization. The initial assessment is that the U.S. airstrike killed 5 al-Shabaab terrorists and no civilians were injured or killed. The U.S. said the action was taken at the request of the Federal Government of Somalia.
“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 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)
The military action came three weeks after the U.S. conducted an airstrike against Al Shabaab that killed five militants near Hareeri Kalle, in Somalia. A week before that action, the U.S. undertook an airstrike against that killed 10 militants north of Kismayo. 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.
AFRICOM Commander Gen. Langley Visits Somalia To Discuss Al Shabaab
U.S. Marine Corps Gen. Michael Langley, commander, U.S. Africa Command (left) meets with Somalian President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud in Mogadishu during visit to Somalia June 13-14, 2023. (Credit: africom.mil)
In June, Marine Corps Gen. Michael Langley, Commander of U.S. Africa Command, visited Somalia last week to discuss military operations including the “shared fight” against terror group al Shabaab, according to AFRICOM. While in Somalia capital city Mogadishu, Langley met with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, Somalia Minister of Defense, Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur, senior State Department and defense officials, and African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS). In Kismayo, Langley met with the Jubaland Federal Member State President Ahmed Madobe, and Danab leadership, as well as U.S. troops to witness ongoing training efforts, and see ongoing operations firsthand, AFRICOM said.
On August 9, 2022, Gen. Langley became AFRICOM’s sixth commander since the command was established in 2008. The AFRICOM chief says he is looking to help African nations find African solutions. Last year, Gen. Langley visited Djibouti, Somalia, and Manda Bay, Kenya. In March, Langley delivered the 2023 U.S. Africa Command posture statement before the Senate Armed Services Committee. Among other things, the commander said African nations would be better off by not getting involved with the controversial Russian Wagner Group to help solve their problems.
