Three Shabaab militants killed in 3rd U.S airstrike in 2020

Three Al-Shabaab militants were killed in a U.S airstrike in Lower Jubba region on Sunday, the US Africa Command has said.

AFRICOM said in a statement Tuesday it killed three militants in Bangeeni in a strike Sunday after the militants engaged Somali Special Forces unit, Danab.

“At this time, it is assessed this precision airstrike killed three (3) militants. Currently, we assess no civilians were injured or killed as a result of this airstrike,” the statement read in part.

A similar strike five days ago killed two Al-Shabaab militants in Qunyo Barrow in Middle Jubba region

The strike is the third one since the beginning of the year as Somali ground forces mount sustained offensives against the militant group killing several of them in the recent weeks and capturing villages in Lower Shabelle and Lower Jubba regions.

“This airstrike targeted al-Shabaab fighters who posed a direct, immediate, and significant threat to our partner forces,” said Maj. Gen. William Gayler, director of the operation, U.S. Africa Command. “Al-Shabaab consists of terrorists and criminals who seek to export hate and violence more broadly. We remain committed to supporting our Somali partners and the security progress together we are building in the region.”