Saturday January 2, 2021
MOGADISHU (HO) - A US airstrike destroyed a radio station run by the militant group in Lower Shabelle region Friday but there was no immediate report on casualties.
Multiple sources indicate the drone strike which is the first this year by US forces destroyed Radio Furqan in the town of Kunyo-Barrow in the Lower Shabelle region. AFRICOM, which carries out the strikes has not released any statement on the development.
The strike is the first this year by AFRICOM as winds up its stay in Somalia.
The outgoing Trump administration set January 20 as the final exit day for US troops in Somalia. Pentagon said the troops will be stationed in neighbouring countries including Kenya and Djibouti.
Al-Shabaab maintains several mobile radio stations in areas in controls and uses them to bolster their propaganda and control. The militants seized several radio stations particularly in Mogadishu before they were forced out in 2011.