The strike occurred in a remote area approximately 45 km southwest of Hobyo, Somalia, and about 472 km northeast of Mogadishu.
The initial assessment is the strike killed 12 al-Shabaab fighters.
Given the remote location of the operation, the command assesses that no civilians were injured or killed.
Rooting out extremism requires intervention beyond traditional military means.
Somali
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has publicly stated that economic
reform, social and political reconciliation, and religious tolerance are
key pillars of his strategy to mobilize society against international
terrorist. Military actions are only a part of the Federal Government of
Somalia’s efforts to comprehensively address their security challenges.
The
U.S. is one of several countries providing humanitarian aid,
stabilization efforts, economic development, and military assistance to
the Federal Government of Somalia in their ongoing campaign.
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 brings together multiple agencies
from within the U.S. government to increase cooperation and support for
partner-led, U.S.-enabled solutions to shared security challenges,
including violent extremism or terrorism.
“U.S. Africa Command
provides support to the Somali government to address terrorist threats,
but we are only part of the U.S. efforts there,” said Gen. Michael
Langley, AFRICOM commander. “Our Department of State and U.S. Agency for
International Development colleagues have programs that help build
resilience through education and training; develop agricultural
diversity; improve markets and trade; and strengthen democracy and good
governance.”
Somalia remains central to stability and security in
all of East Africa. U.S. Africa Command’s forces train, advise, and
assist 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 will continue to 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; AFRICOM
