The United States special forces attached to the US Africa Command on Sunday, July 9, announced that it took out 10 Al-Shabaab terrorists in a joint operation with Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) and Somali National Army (SNA).
In a tweet sharing a statement issued by the US military, Defence Cabinet Secretary (CS) Aden Duale reported that the joint operation conducted three self-defense airstrikes in Afmadow, Somalia.
According to Counter Terrorism and Security Intelligence (CTNSIS), three Kenyans were among the militants shot dead during the operation.
“Working with the Somali National Army, U.S. Africa Command’s initial assessment is that the U.S. airstrike killed 10 Al-Shabaab terrorists and that no civilians were injured or killed,” the statement read.
The US military in their statement following the strikes termed the terror group "the largest and most kinetically active Al-Qaeda network in the world".
It further noted that Al-Shabaab had proved it had both the will and capability to attack partner forces operating in Somalia including the US military, calling for the high-stakes military operation.
According to CTNSIS, the joint operation deployed commandos in the region and captured an Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) factory and recovered a Suicide Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Device (SVBIED).
Two other militants killed were Ethiopians.
The commandos deployed in the Hagar area to execute the operation were successfully extracted with no casualties reported.
The operation came a few days after KDF snipers neutralised a suicide bomber targeting a security agency camp in Lamu County.
On Thursday, July 6, Garowe Online, a Somali publication, reported that the suicide bomber was taken out while approaching Camp Sarira in Lamu.
