Somalia: US airstrikes kill over 100 al-Shabaab militants
US airstrikes in Somalia have killed more than 100 al-Shabaab militants, US Africa Command (AFRICOM) announced. It is the biggest in a series of 29 airstrikes acknowledged by the Pentagon so far.
The airstrikes were carried out about 125 miles away from the capital city of Mogadishu at 10:30 am local time, the Pentagon said in a statement. The strike was done in coordination with Somalia’s federal government.
The administration of President Donald Trump has given field commanders more authority to use force in combating terrorists. As a result, AFRICOM has been able to employ “precision airstrikes” in support of Somali and African Union troops (AMISOM), battling al-Shabaab and other terrorist groups. Previously, airstrikes were authorized only in self-defense of US forces.
The Pentagon has publicly acknowledged 29 airstrikes in Somalia this year. Seven of those strikes took place between November 9 and November 14.