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 suspected drone strike  in the vicinity of El-Lahelay Somalia last week reportedly killed civilians including children. The airstrike in the Horn of Africa nation also killed  several al-Shabaab militants. According to media reports, residents in the area said it was an American airstrike that caused the  civilian deaths. The U.S. quickly denied the reports, saying that U.S. Africa Command only medically evacuated injured civilians.

“On September 6, 2023, a Somali national force conducted a counter-terrorism operation in the vicinity of El-Lahelay, Somalia. The command’s initial assessment is that three al Shabaab leaders were killed as a result of the operation and, unfortunately, civilians were injured and killed in the vicinity of the operation. U.S. forces were not onsite for the operation and did not conduct air strikes during or in support of the operation. In response to a request from the Government of Somalia, U.S. Africa Command medically evacuated injured civilians. The claim being spread by al Shabaab that U.S. forces caused the unfortunate harm to civilians is false.”

-U.S. AFRICOM said in statement Sept. 9, 2023

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 U.S. has conducted airstrikes in support of Somali forces battling the Al-Shabaab terrorist group over the years.  Last month,  a U.S. airstrike against Al Shabaab killed five militants in Somalia,  AFRICOM confirmed.        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.