The United States Africa Command Friday confirmed that American jets had carried out air strikes on al-Shabaab positions near the Somali capital Mogadishu on Thursday.
According to AFRICOM in a statement the air offensive was launched in coordination with the federal government of Somalia.
”The airstrikes occurred in the vicinity of Nuur Dugle, Somalia, approximately 215 km northeast of Mogadishu” said the statement.
AFRICOM said it was working in concert with the Somali Armed Forces to degrade al-Shabaab’s ability to threaten the U.S. homeland, American troops and citizens abroad.
The command refrained from revealing specific details about units and assets to ensure continued operations security.
Despite are sustained joint military campaign comprising African Union peacekeepers, the Somali military and US air support, al-Shabaab have retained a capability to strike Mogadishu and other parts of Somalia mainly through suicide bombings.
Since 2007, the militant group has been waging an insurgency to topple the government in Somalia, a country which had been trapped in civil strife after the overthrow of Siad Barre in 1991.
WN/as/APA