US Africa Command announced on Monday that its forces had launched a “series” of airstrikes to support US-backed Somali government forces during a week-long battle against al-Shabaab from August 1 to August 8 in southern Somalia.
The airstrikes were launched during a battle to retake Bariire, a town in southern Somalia that’s about 30 miles west of Mogadishu. US-backed government forces were joined by Ugandan troops that are part of the African Union’s mission in Somalia, known as AUSSOM.
AFRICOM did not specify how many strikes it launched during the battle or offer any details about casualties. “Specific details about units and assets will not be released to ensure continued operations security,” AFRICOM said.
Somalia’s defense minister said that Somalia and AUSSOM forces “neutralized 120 al-Shabaab militants” and captured several others. According to Garowe Online, the offensive also resulted in the deaths of “dozens of soldiers,” but neither the Somali Defense Ministry nor AUSSOM shared any info about their own casualties in their press releases on the battle.
While the US-allied forces were able to retake Bariire, al-Shabaab has been gaining significant territory in southern Somalia overall in an offensive it launched in February, taking dozens of towns and villages. The US-backed government of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is considered very weak and has been losing the support of clans it previously relied on to fight al-Shabaab.
The Trump administration has significantly escalated airstrikes in Somalia, both in support of the Mogadishu-based government and local forces in the northeastern Puntland region, where another war is being fought against Somalia’s small ISIS affiliate, which is an offshoot of al-Shabaab.
As of August 1, Antiwar.com has counted that the US has conducted at least 55 airstrikes in Somalia this year. Antiwar.com has requested AFRICOM to provide specific details on the number of strikes carried out during the battle for Bariire and will update its tally accordingly. The Trump administration is bombing Somalia at a record pace and is well on its way to breaking the annual record of 63 airstrikes, which President Trump set during his first term in 2019.
