An update of a previous article[American Military News] A U.S. airstrike killed six members of the Al Shabaab terror group after they attacked U.S. troops on Monday, the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) said.
The airstrike was launched in response to an Al Shabaab ambush on U.S and partner forces in the area, AFRICOM said in an emailed statement to American Military News. The Al Shabaab fighters attacked from a building in the vicinity of Dar as-Salam, Somalia before the airstrike was called. Three more Al Shabaab fighters were also wounded in the airstrike.
The AFRICOM said U.S. forces were in the vicinity of the ambush and were present as part of an effort to advise and assist Somali partner forces. AFRICOM said Al-Shabaab falsely claimed U.S. casualties, but no U.S. forces were injured or killed during the attack.
AFRICOM reported no civilian casualties from the strike.
"Al Shabaab is a dangerous enemy," said U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Bradford Gering, who is the deputy director for operations for AFRICOM. "It is a danger to Africa and the United States. "We will continue to place pressure on the network and impact their ability to plan and execute these acts."
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U.S. Forces have been working with Somali partners, namely the Federal Government of Somalia, to train them to handle the Al Shabaab insurgency and eventually transfer responsibilities to the Somali government.
"As part of an international effort, U.S. Africa Command and U.S. interagency partners continue to help support Somali-led efforts to counter and contain dangerous terrorist organizations from exporting violence more broadly," the AFRICOM statement read.
The news of the Monday strike comes after AFRICOM released information about a Tuesday strike that targeted a senior member of the Somali terror group. At least one Al Shabaab member was killed in the Tuesday strike, but AFRICOM did not confirm their identity as that of the senior Al Shabaab leader.