The strike occurred approximately 260 km northeast of Mogadishu near Galcad,
Somalia where Somalia National Army forces were engaged in heavy fighting
following a complex, extended, intense attack by more than 100 al-Shabaab
fighters.
The combined actions by partner forces on the ground and the collective
self-defense strike is estimated to have resulted in three destroyed vehicles
and approximately thirty al-Shabaab terrorists killed.
Given the remote location of the fighting, the command assesses that no
civilians were injured or killed.
The U.S. is one of several countries providing support to the Federal
Government of Somalia in its ongoing campaign to disrupt, degrade and defeat
terrorist groups. Rooting out extremism ultimately requires intervention beyond
traditional military means, leveraging U.S. and partner efforts to support
effective governance, promote stabilization and economic development, and
resolve ongoing conflicts.
U.S. Africa Command is the defense arm of the U.S. whole-of-government
approach with African partners — diplomacy, development and defense. This
three-pronged, or “3D” approach aims to increase cooperation and support for
“partner-led, U.S.-enabled” solutions to shared security challenges, including
violent extremism or terrorism. All kinetic operations conducted and supported
by U.S. Africa Command are done in coordination with the Federal Government of
Somalia.
Somalia remains central to stability and security in all of East Africa.
U.S. Africa Command’s forces will continue training, advising, and equipping
partner forces to help give them the tools they need to defeat al-Shabaab, the
largest and most deadly al-Qaeda network in the world.
U.S. Africa Command will continue to assess the results of this operation
and will provide additional information as appropriate. Specific details about
the units involved and assets used will not be released in order to ensure
operations security.
The Federal Government of Somalia and U.S. Africa Command take great
measures to prevent civilian casualties. Protecting civilians remains a vital
part of the command’s operations to promote greater security for all Africans.
Source: United States Africa Command
