US Forces Hit Al-Shabab Terrorists In Somalia With 2 Airstrikes - Africa Command

US forces conducted two airstrikes against Al-Shabab terrorist forces in Somalia to support the nation's internationally recognized government, United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) announced in a press release on Thursday

WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 24th January, 2019) US forces conducted two airstrikes against Al-Shabab terrorist forces in Somalia to support the nation's internationally recognized government, United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) announced in a press release on Thursday.

"US Africa Command conducted the airstrikes to increase pressure on the al-Shabaab [SIC] network and degrade its ability to plot and conduct operations," the release said. "At this time we assess no civilians were injured or killed in these airstrikes."

The release gave no details on the targets and did not say whether any terrorists were killed.

The strikes took place in regions of southern and central Somalia that are used by the terrorist group to plot and direct terror attacks, steal humanitarian aid, extort the local populace to fund its operations, and shelter radical terrorists, the release said.

The US military has stationed about 500 troops in Somalia, most of whom are Special Operations forces, according to published reports.

Al-Shabab emerged in Somalia in 2006 and has been responsible for numerous terrorist attacks throughout the region. Al-Shabab has sworn allegiance to the Al-Qaeda terror group (banned in Russia).