U.S. conducts airstrike against Al-Shabaab in Somalia, killing 18 militants

Mogadishu: In coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia, U.S. forces conducted an airstrike in self-defense, targeting al-Shabaab militants 50 kilometers northwest of Kismayo, Lower Juba Province, Somalia, on Friday 2st September 2018.

At least 18 Al-Shabaab militants were killed in the U.S. strike. No U.S. or Somali forces were killed or injured in the attack, an AFRICOM spokesman, Nate Herring, told The Associated Press. The airstrike was carried out Friday in self-defense after extremists were “observed maneuvering on a combined patrol,” while the U.S. also responded with “indirect fire,” the spokesman said.

Two other Al-Shabaab extremists were killed by Somali forces “with small arms fire during the engagement,” the AFRICOM statement said.

US AFRICOM Press Release

The operation was Somali-led, the AFRICOM spokesman said. There was no immediate comment from Somali authorities.