U.S. and Somali Forces Target al Shabaab in Coordinated Strikes Near Kismayo
The operations took place 40 miles northwest of Kismayo, Somalia, and resulted in significant losses for the al Shabaab terrorist group.
EAST AFRICA — U.S. and Somali forces conducted a series of coordinated operations against al Shabaab, including an airstrike and ground operations, aimed at degrading the group's capability to plan and conduct attacks.
The operations took place 40 miles northwest of Kismayo, Somalia, and resulted in significant losses for al Shabaab, including the elimination of over 40 terrorists and the capture of senior members.
Evolution of al Shabaab and the Somali Conflict
Al Shabaab is designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the U.S. Department of State. The group, affiliated with al-Qaeda, has been a major security threat in Somalia and the wider East African region since the mid-2000s.
Emerging from the Islamic Courts Union, al Shabaab has been involved in numerous terrorist attacks, including the 2013 Westgate Mall attack in Kenya and the 2017 Mogadishu bombing.
The Federal Government of Somalia, supported by the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and international partners like the United States, has been engaged in a protracted conflict to counter al Shabaab's influence.
Acronym Index
• AFRICOM: U.S. Africa Command
• AMISOM: African Union Mission in Somalia
• SNA: Somali National Army