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Africa Horn
US airstrike kills five Al-Shabaab members in central Somalia as Somali army, local militias launch major op
2023-08-17


SNA with the help of the U.S. military in Africa AFRICOM carried out on Tuesday morning in an area under the Galcad district in the Galgaduud region.

As many as five al-Shabaab
...... al-Qaeda's tentacle in East Africa...
 fighters were killed in the joint operation, according to a statement from the Somali government. The raid also destroyed a bad boy hideout.

"The operation that took place about 35 km south-east of Galcad city in Galgaduud region, reads the statement in part. al-Shabaab is yet to comment on the reported Arclight airstrike
...KABOOM!...
The air raid coincides with the preparation of the war with President Hassan Sheikh in Dhusamareb, Galmudug
...a semiautonomous region in central Somalia, bordering Puntland on the north. Galmudug is not trying to obtain international recognition as a separate nation, but rather considers itself autonomous within the larger Somali federalism, for what that's worth...
 capital for days to mobilize the local clans against al-Shabaab.

In January 2023, the SNA captured Galcad, about 375 kilometers north of Mogadishu during the government-led offensive against al-Shabaab in central Somalia which is still progressing.

The government has reported killing hundreds of gunnies and seizing dozens of localities in neighboring Hirshabelle state since the military operations were launched in August.

The government has also reported shutting down hundreds of bank and mobile money accounts allegedly linked with al-Shabaab in an effort to curtail the group’s revenue generation activities.



Somali National Army and local militias have launched a large-scale offensive against al-Shabaab
...... the personification of Somali state failure...
 in Galgadud and Mudug regions in central Somalia in what has been billed as one of the largest mobilisation of forces against the terrorist group.

The operation which began on Monday brought together various brigades of the SNA, the US-trained Danab Special Forces and allied clan militia. According to military sources, the allied forces deployed in Elbur, Galhareeri, Wabho, and Diri in Galgadud as well as parts of northern Mudug.

The fiercest fighting is expected to happen in these areas as the allied forces aim to dislodge al-Shabaab which has been in control for over 15 years.

Brigadier Ismail Abdi Malik Maalin, who is the commander of the 26th Brigade of Ali Bin Abi Dalib is leading the operation with the support of Danab, Gorgor and Beilaqdar units. US forces are providing air support to the joint forces.

The army is also planning to launch operations in areas such as Qeyad, Khindere and Aad, Amara and Shabeellow in Mudug while operations are already underway in Harardhere district also in Mudug.





Related:
Galcad district: 2023-07-26 Al-Shabaab activities disrupted in Somalia - defense ministry
Galcad district: 2023-03-31 Somali troops make fresh gains against Al-Shabaab in Galmudug
Related:
Galgaduud: 2023-08-13 Army commanders tour central Somalia ahead of Al-Shabaab operations
Galgaduud: 2023-08-09 Somalia: Large bomb-making Al-Shabaab base destroyed in operation
Galgaduud: 2023-08-03 160 Al-shabaab militants killed in separate operations in the Southwest and Hirshabelle states over the past week
Related:
Galmudug: 2023-08-15 Warplanes sighted in central Somalia ahead of Al-Shabaab crackdown
Galmudug: 2023-08-14 Somali special forces raid Al-Shabaab bases near Kismayo city, SNA raids Bula Falay town
Galmudug: 2023-08-11 Security officials in Galmudug state says a number of Al-shabaab militants surrendering to the Government forces has risen
Related:
Galcad: 2023-07-26 Al-Shabaab activities disrupted in Somalia - defense ministry
Galcad: 2023-07-21 U.S. military says five al Shabab militants were killed in a drone strike
Galcad: 2023-07-20 Somalia army eliminates more Al-Shabaab militants in operation: 30+ today, 200+ in past week
Posted by:trailing wife

#2  Add in the drone orbit time and ground station operation costs.
Posted by: Skidmark   2023-08-17 23:11  

#1  Setting aside the dubious reason we are killing small groups of Somali's based on God-Knows-What Jegal justification, spending $150,000 (Hellfire per unit cost according to Wiki) to whack 4-5 mopes just seems nuts! Surely the guys at Creech have better things to do?
Posted by: NoMoreBS   2023-08-17 12:59  

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