The U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) carried out three separate strikes against members of the Al-Shabaab terror group on Sunday, killing eight members of the group.
The three strikes took place near the city of Mubaraak, Somalia. AFRICOM detailed the strikes in an emailed statement to American Military News.
The Al-Shabaab terror group is affiliated with Al Qaeda and has been the target of numerous and frequent strikes by U.S. forces.
The AFRICOM statement assessed no civilian casualties from the strikes.
“Security is a prerequisite for economic growth and development; U.S. Africa Command assists Somalia and other African nations in building capable and professional militaries every single day,” U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Miguel Castellanos, the deputy director of operations for AFRICOM said in a statement. “To help Africa achieve its potential requires military assistance and that is what the U.S. affords our African partners.”
Sunday’s strikes were carried out in coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia.
“As the world works to contain COVID-19, it is important our partners recognize we continue to be committed to the security progress in Somalia and will continue to disrupt al-Shabaab’s terrorist activities,” Castellanos’ statement continued. “This is a responsibility that AFRICOM takes very seriously.”
AFRICOM announced in a separate statement to American Military News over the weekend it had carried out another successful strike against the Somali terror group on Friday, killing five of its fighters near the Somali city of Bush Madina.
“Al-Shabaab’s goals, rhetoric, and its over reliance on both coercion and violence mirror al-Qaida,” said U.S. Marine Corps Bradford J. Gering, deputy director of operations, U.S. Africa Command. “It’s our command’s responsibility to support our partners so this terrorist group can’t expand and strike the U.S. homeland as its leaders desire to do.”
AFRICOM also reported a prior three Al-Shabaab fighters killed in an airstrike in Bush Madina on Thursday.
