ALBAWABA - At the request of the Somali government, the U.S. military announced on Sunday that it believed it had killed 13 al Shabaab fighters in southern Somalia in a "collective self-defense airstrike".
The Somali government and allied forces from a number of countries, including the U.S., launched a battle a year ago that has forced al Shabaab, which is known to be affiliated with al Qaeda group, out of areas of the country's center, though the group continues to carry out significant attacks across Somalia.
The U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) said it had conducted an air strike on Saturday against al Shabaab near Seiera, about 45 km (28 miles) northwest of Kismayo, at the government's request.
"The collective self-defense airstrike was conducted in the early morning hours of Aug. 26, in support of Somali National Army forces who were engaged by" al Shabaab, AFRICOM said in a statement.
"Working with the Somali National Army, U.S. Africa Command's initial assessment is that the airstrike killed 13 al Shabaab fighters and that no civilians were injured or killed," the statement added.
Meanwhile, al-Shabab militants raided the recently liberated village of Cowsweyne in the central Galmudug state, killing government soldiers early Saturday, security sources told Voice of America.
According to two security officials who asked not to be identified because they are not allowed to comment on sensitive military operations, the militants attacked the village using explosions from vehicle-borne explosive devices (VBIED) or car bombs, followed by armed militants who engaged in heavy gun battles with government forces, VOA reported.
Earlier this month, A number of Al-Shabaab group members were killed in a national army operation in the state of Hiran in Somalia.
