US Bombs al-Shabaab, Marking 58th Airstrike in Somalia of the Year

US Africa Command (AFRICOM) said in a press release on Wednesday that its forces conducted an airstrike to the southwest of Bariire, a town in southern Somalia, on August 17, marking at least the 58th US airstrike in Somalia this year.

The command said that it launched the strike against al-Shabaab in support of US-backed government forces and offered no other details. “Specific details about units and assets will not be released to ensure continued operations security,’ AFRICOM said.

The US-backed Somali Defense Ministry said in a press release on August 18 that the Danab, a special US-trained military unit, conducted a major operation against al-Shabaab in Awdheegle, a town that’s just six miles southwest of Bariire, putting it in the area where AFRICOM said it conducted the strike.