US strike in Somalia kills 3 al-Shabaab militants

The US confirmed Wednesday that it carried out an airstrike in central Somalia targeting the al-Shabaab terror group.

Africa Command (AFRICOM) said the mid-morning strike Tuesday in Somalia’s Bay Region killed three al-Shabaab militants.

The sortie was carried out in coordination with Somalia’s central government in support of Somali forces and the African Union’s Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), the command said in a statement.

“US forces will continue to use all authorized and appropriate measures to protect Americans and to disable terrorist threats,” AFRICOM said.

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“This includes partnering with AMISOM and the Somali National Security Forces (SNSF); targeting terrorists, their training camps and safe havens throughout Somalia, the region and around the world.”

The US designated al-Shabaab as a terrorist organization in 2008.

Al-Shabaab has publicly boasted of its alliance with al-Qaeda and has been warring against Somalia’s internationally recognized government for control of the country since it was ousted from the capital by African Union-led forces in 2011.