Pentagon Reports Airstrikes Against Somalia's Al-Shabaab

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Pentagon Reports Airstrikes Against Somalia's Al-Shabaab

The U.S. military conducted two strikes in southern Somalia early this week that killed four al-Qaida-linked Al-Shabaab militants involved in attacks on Somali government troops, a U.S. military spokeswoman said on Wednesday,

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The U.S. military conducted two strikes in southern Somalia early this week that killed four al-Qaida-linked Al-Shabaab militants involved in attacks on Somali government troops, a U.S. military spokeswoman said on Wednesday,

The U.S. military previously has used drones to target Al-Shabaab's senior leaders.

In June, the Pentagon said it carried out a strike in late May against Abdullahi Haji Da'ud, one of Al-Shabaab's senior military planners, and served as a principal coordinator of attacks in Somalia, Kenya and Uganda.

The latest strikes took place Monday in Torotorow in southern Somalia's Lower Shabelle region.

"During a Somali-led counterterrorism operation, a large group of armed Al-Shabaab fighters attacked the force, threatening the safety and security of the forces in the area," said Capt Jennifer Dyrcz, a U.S. Africa Command spokeswoman.

"In response, the U.S. conducted two self-defense strikes ... killing four Al-Shabaab militants."

Al-Shabaab was pushed out of Mogadishu by African Union peacekeeping forces in 2011 but has remained a potent antagonist in Somalia, launching frequent attacks aimed at overthrowing the Western-backed government.

For instance, the Islamist militant group claimed responsibility for an August 30 car bombing outside Mogadishu’s presidential palace that killed at least 22 people.