AFRICOM confirms joint airstrike on Al-Shabaab in Southern Somalia

The US Africa Command, AFRICOM, on Tuesday confirmed conducting an airstrike targeting Al-Shabaab on Monday in the vicinity of Sablaale, approximately 190km southwest of Mogadishu, in efforts to degrade the militants.

The operation, the command said, was carried out alongside the Federal Government of Somalia and the Somali Armed Forces.

“Specific details about units and assets will not be released to ensure continued operations security,” AFRICOM said in a statement.

The statement followed an earlier one by the Ministry of Defence that said that the Danab Commandos conducted a planned operation in Sablaale, lower Shabelle, neutralising seven Al-Shabaab terrorists, including a leader, and destroying two sites used for training and spreading extremist ideology.

Earlier, the Somali National Armed Forces, with the support of international partners, had also carried out airstrikes last night in the village of Goobo, 10 km north of Mahaas District in Hiiraan Region, where remnants of Al-Shabaab militants had regrouped after being defeated by the Somali Army in Sullaay and Waab-weyn on Monday afternoon.

Somali National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) also confirmed the killing of 19 plotters and senior leaders of Al-Shabaab, who were involved in organising militias, storing weapons, and planning terrorist acts that were harming the Somali people.

The killings, according to NISA, were conducted in collaboration with international partners and coordinated operations in the Middle Shabelle and Hiran regions.

“The first operation took place on the outskirts of Geel-gub, under the Masaajid Ali Gaduud area in the Middle Shabelle region, where the Khawarij were gathering militias to carry out terrorist acts. Successive strikes targeting their hideouts killed 12 plotters and destroyed the positions and shelters the group was using to organise and prepare for attacks.”

“Meanwhile, a planned operation carried out in the Buq-aqable area of the ​​Hiran region destroyed a facility used by the Khawarij to store weapons collected from Middle Shabelle, Hiran and Galgaduud regions. In the operation, seven conspirators were killed, including Horjooge Faruq, who was in charge of the weapons depot, and the weapons and equipment in the facility, including two Abdi Bile, Nooho and two Mooto, were also burned,” the intelligence agency said.

The agency said the operations are part of the ongoing efforts to target Khawarij leaders, facilities, and supplies to ensure the security and stability of the Somali people and urged Somali nationals to share any security threats or information related to Al-Shabaab/ISIS with the agency via its official channels.

AFRICOM has conducted 74 airstrikes in Somalia; this year, five of which were carried out this month, including Monday’s strike.