Hiiraan Online
Wednesday September 18, 2019
MOGADISHU (HOL) - Two Al-Shabaab militants were killed in an airstrike Monday in Lower Jubba region, the U.S army said Wednesday.
The U.S Africa Command (AFRICOM) said in a statement the two were felled in an airstrike north of Kismayu as they tried to attack Somali forces.
"In coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia, U.S Africa Command conducted an airstrike on Al-Shabaab insurgents after they attacked a Somali patrol northwest of Kismayo, Lower Juba Province, Somalia on Sept. 17," the statement read in part.
The U.S military noted there were no civlian casualties based on its assessment.It was not immediately clear if the airstrike had a connection with the Somali army troops movement in Afmadow which resulted in the death of about 15 Al-Shabaab militants Tuesday.
SNA chief Ge. Abdullahi Raage told journalists the forces had killed 15 Al-Shabaab militants in an area near Afmadow Tuesday in addition to the killing of two Al-Shabaab commanders in Hiiraan region on the same day.
U.S forces have intensified airstrikes in southern and central Somali regions ramping over 50 strikes on Al-Shabaab targets since the beginning of the year.