US Africa Command announced that it launched an airstrike in Somalia on March 10 in support of the Mogadishu-based government, marking the second time the US bombed the country this month.
AFRICOM said the strike hit a target in the vicinity of Ugunji, a village about 44 miles southwest of Mogadishu.
The command claimed its “initial assessment” found three al-Shabaab fighters were killed and no civilians were harmed, but AFRICOM is notorious for undercounting civilian casualties, and US military operations in Somalia are shrouded in secrecy.
The last strike AFRICOM reported in Somalia took place on March 2, and the command claimed it killed two al-Shabaab members. It’s unclear if AFRICOM reports all US airstrikes in Somalia, as the CIA could also be carrying out covert drone strikes.
The latest US airstrike in Somalia came after journalist Nick Turse reported for The Intercept that the Pentagon was aware of fundamental flaws in its military operations in Somalia for nearly two decades, citing a 2007 study of the US campaign in the Horn of Africa. The US pressed ahead in Somalia without addressing glaring problems, and today, there’s still no end to the war in sight.
The US military hypes the threat of al-Shabaab due to its size and al-Qaeda affiliation, but it’s widely believed the group does not have ambitions outside of Somalia.
Al-Shabaab was born out of a US-backed Ethiopian invasion in 2006 that toppled the Islamic Courts Union, a coalition of Muslim groups who briefly held power in Mogadishu after ousting CIA-backed warlords.
Al-Shabaab was the radical offshoot of the Islamic Courts Union. The group’s first recorded attack was in 2007, and it wasn’t until 2012 that al-Shabaab pledged loyalty to al-Qaeda after years of fighting the US and its proxies.
So it goes. Actually, where WE go, things get worse.
WE? Lol.
And if you don’t want the US to conduct strikes in Somalia, ask the Somalia government not to request it.
And if the US doesn’t do it, Somalia will ask Wagner Group like it happens in many African countries and in which case you’ll be totally fine and quite about it.
Good. I was starting to worry our smart bombs are not as smart anymore. Although, I am a bit concerned those were just members and not leaders. I guess they’re running out of leaders?
How many times did Obama kill the “leader” of al Qaeda? I think it was up to six or seven before I lost count. Then they changed the name to ISIS and became our ally in Syria and Libya so that game stopped.
Are you saying the US government officially announced Osama Bin Landen to be dead 6 times?
Or was that the many times you read it on Facebook?
Not too bright, are you?
But remember Russia and China are bad. We stand for democracy, peace, justice, and the American Way.
As sure as the sun sets in the west the claim that no civilians were harmed was once again the “initial assessment”. In other words, they don’t have a clue who they killed and until someone says differently, they’re sticking to that
bullshitclaim.Another “righteous strike”. Just ask Africom. Who you gonna believe?
AFRICOM claims “3 al-shabaab”; well maybe, if “al-shabaab” is Somali for “herd of goats”. Else, I doubt the claim. Just another “righteous strike”. I wish, just once, the people who launch these things would have them go off in their hands, blowing body parts off THEM and leaving them disfigured, blind, and burned over 90% of their bodies. F’ing murderers.
“The strike was the second time the US bombed Somalia this month”
It was also, the second time, the Government of Somalia requested and authorized the US to conduct the strike.
The “government” which actually controls about 10% of the country, and then only because of African Union troops? The government whose corruption has helped make things so bad that Somalia is now the 4th largest source of refugees on the planet? (After our those great US success stories Ukraine, Syria and Afghanistan.) That government? Sounds like someone you’d support.
Yes, that same government requested the attack, and if the US wouldn’t do it, they would’ve asked Russia.
Yes, that same government is the government of Somalia recognized by the UN.
Do you know any other government of Somalia?
Let me guess, you recognize Al Shabbab as the government of Somalia.
Let me guess,
You are another Putin Lover in this blog.
What’s new? Pick a number.
If it only controls 10% of a country then it’s not a government.
And US recognition has nothing to do with validity, the US pretends that Guiado el Gusano is president of Venezuela for example.
Sounds like a country the Joey Biden and Hunter can do business in.
Maybe they can negotiate a property sale for a new Trump Tower in Mogadishu, then everyone will be happy! (Well, all the important people of course….) /s
Just like CIA drone strikes in Yemen were shrouded in secrecy before Saudi Arabia with US weapons started attacking their land…!
War does not contribute to Peace on Earth, peace does.
You are still a fake peace activist in my book.
Hypocrite.
America must be so proud that they can kill civilians in Africa.
After all America is losing in Ukrainian and it lost in Afghanistan, but it can kill defenseless tribal people in Somalia.
FJBm obama, and the RINO criminals.