MOGADISHU, Nov. 11 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. military confirmed on Saturday that it conducted drone strike in Somalia on Friday night against Islamist militants, killing several of them.
The U.S. Africa Command (Africom) said in a statement that it carried out the strike in coordination with Somali government forces on Friday night in the Lower Shabelle region, about 32 km north of the capital, Mogadishu.
"In coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia, U.S. forces conducted an airstrike in Somalia against Al-Shabaab on Friday at approximately 8 p.m. local Somalia time, killing several militants," Africom said in a statement.
Africom, which has in the past conducted counterterrorism airstrikes against the terror group in Somalia said Al Shabaab's affiliate, Al Qaeda, has publicly committed to planning and conducting attacks against the United States and its partners in the region.
Africom said the U.S. forces will continue to use all authorized and appropriate measures to protect Americans and to disable terrorist threats.
"This includes partnering with AMISOM and Somali National Security Forces (SNSF); targeting terrorists, their training camps and safe havens throughout Somalia, the region and around the world," it said.
The militants have recently increased their attacks against Africa Union and Somali forces especially in Mogadishu where a deadly attack took place on Oct. 14 that claimed over 358 lives.
The allied forces responded by launching a massive security operation to flush out Al-Shabaab militants in Middle Shabelle region in southern region.
The AU plans to reduce its troops in Somalia by 1,000 by December, followed by further cuts next year, an exercise expected to end by 2020 as part of its exit strategy. Enditem
