Published: Less than 30 min ago
The US is said to have carried out airstrikes against targets in Somalia. They were aimed at the terrorist group al-Shabaab and were successful, according to the US statement.
The other day, al-Shabaab attacked a military facility that belongs to the African Union forces in the country, approximately twelve miles southwest of the capital, Mogadishu. A car with explosives was driven into the base and a firefight followed, local residents and a Somali military commander told AFP.
The US military’s Africa Command says the airstrikes were carried out in support of Somalia’s federal government and AU forces. Weapons and equipment stolen by al-Shabaab are said to have been destroyed.
Last August, Somali government forces launched an offensive against al-Shabaab, supported by the AU mission in the country. The AU operation Atmis consists of around 20,000 soldiers and aims to allow the government to re-establish a stable security situation in Somalia.