American Conducts Airstrike Against Al-shabab In Lower Shabelle Region

United State forces, in coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia, conducted an airstrike against al-Shabab militants in Lower Shabelle region, U.S. Africa Command said.

AFRICOM said the strike took place July 13 in the vicinity of Sablaale, about 190 kilometers southwest of Mogadishu.

“AFRICOM, alongside the Federal Government of Somalia and Somali Armed Forces, continues to take action to degrade al-Shabaab’s ability to threaten U.S. forces and our citizens abroad,” the command said in a statement.

AFRICOM did not provide casualty figures from the airstrike.

In a separate statement Monday, Somalia’s Ministry of Defence said Somali National Armed Forces’ Danab Commandos killed seven al-Shabab militants, including a commander, during an operation in Lower Shabelle on Sunday night.

The ministry said Danab forces carried out the planned operation shortly after midnight in Sablaale district, targeting locations occupied by al-Shabab fighters.

The commander killed in the operation had been involved in mobilizing fighters for the group, the ministry said.

Military officials said Somali forces also destroyed two sites allegedly used by al-Shabab to train recruits and spread extremist ideology.

According to the Ministry of Defence, the facilities were used to radicalize individuals and encourage acts of terrorism.

The Danab Brigade, whose name means “Lightning,” is an elite special operations force within the Somali National Army. Established in 2013 and trained with U.S. support, the unit serves as a quick-reaction force in operations against al-Shabab.

The Sablaale operation came a day after the Somali National Army, in coordination with international partners, killed at least 26 al-Shabab militants in airstrikes targeting the group’s positions in Middle Shabelle region, according to Somali officials.

Ali Hassan, an investigative and a freelance journalist writes from Stadthagen, Germany. [email protected]