Somalia’s government said on Tuesday it conducted an airstrike against Al Shabaab in collaboration with the U.S. military’s Africa Command (AFRICOM) but provided no exact casualty numbers or details about any damage.
In a statement, the Somali information ministry said the strike “significantly impacted Al Shabaab militants following their failed attack on the town of Alkowsar in the Middle Shabelle region” of the southern Somalia.
It did not indicate when or where exactly the airstrike occurred.
The ministry added that the attack “specifically targeted Al Shabaab militants and their leadership, who had been defeated in earlier confrontations with the National Armed Forces and brave local community fighters”.
“An assessment of enemy casualties from today’s operation is currently underway, and the Somali public will receive updates as more information becomes available,” it added.
The ministry said the Somali federal government “remains committed to strengthening joint efforts to eliminate extremist groups that pose a threat to the Somali people and the global community”.
AFRICOM has carried out airstrikes in Somalia for years, saying they are aimed at degrading A Shabaab’s “ability to plan and conduct attacks that threaten the U.S. homeland, our partners, and civilians”.
In another incident, Somalia and AFRICOM killed as many as 70 Al Shabaab fighters in airstrikes in Middle Shabelle and Hiiraan regions, according to Somali state media.
The air raids happened AlKowthar, El Ali Ahmed and Adow Gurey areas, Somali National TV said on Tuesday.
