MOGADISHU, Somalia, Feb 3 (NNN-XINHUA) – The United States army said, on Saturday evening, that, its forces conducted an air strike in southern Somalia on Friday, killing 13 al-Shabab terrorists.
The U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), said in a statement that, no civilians were injured or killed in the strike, which targeted al-Shabab fighters in the vicinity of Gandarshe, in Lower Shebelle region.
According to the statement, the extremist group has previously used Gandarshe, about 48 km southwest of Mogadishu, as a staging area for attacks, including vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices that threaten the capital and its residents.
On Dec 15 and 16, 2018, six U.S. air strikes killed 62 al-Shabab militants near Gandarshe, who, according to AFRICOM were preparing for an attack on a Somali government military base in the region, and on Wednesday, a U.S. air strike killed 24 militants in neighbouring Hiran region.
The U.S. strikes have largely targeted al-Shabab figureheads based in southern and central Somalia, where the group still maintains a strong grip in some areas.– NNN-XINHUA
