Somalia: 3 militants killed in US airstrike against Al-Shabaab

MOGADISHU, Somalia - The U.S. military said Wednesday it has conducted a fresh airstrike against Al-Shabaab in southern Somalia, killing at least killed three extremists, Garowe Online reports.

The U.S. Africa Command [AFRICOM] said in the statement, the American troops carried out the air raid near the rebel-held district of Jilib in Middle Jubba region, about 370Km southwest of Mogadishu last Monday, 19th Feb.

"In coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia, U.S. forces conducted an airstrike against al-Shabaab militants on Feb. 19, in the vicinity of Jilib, Somalia, killing three terrorists," read the statement in part.

AFRICOM added that no civilians were killed in this strike, according to their own assessment. This came after Al-Shabaab said Tuesday it killed an American serviceman in a battle near Kismayo, a claim that the U.S. has denied.

The attack which becomes the 4th since the start of this year is the part of the Trump-approved military campaign aimed at disabling terrorist threats in Somalia. Last year, U.S. military carried out at least 35 strikes in the country.

The U.S. has deployed an estimated 500 soldiers to the Horn of Africa nation to assist AMISOM and Somali National Army [SNA] in military operations and targeting Al-Shabaab and ISIL-linked militants in their camps.

GAROWE ONLINE