US Africa Command announced on Monday that its forces launched two separate airstrikes against al-Shabaab in different parts of Somalia on August 30 as the Trump administration continues its heavy bombing campaign in the country.
In one press release, AFRICOM said it launched a strike in the Shabelle Region of Somalia, approximately 31 miles southwest of Mogadishu. In the other release, the command said it conducted a strike in Jubaland, the southernmost region of Somalia, about 25 miles northeast of the port city of Kismayo.
AFRICOM provided no details about the strikes, except to say they targeted al-Shabaab in coordination with the US-backed government. “Specific details about units and assets will not be released to ensure continued operations security,” the command said.
According to Garowe Online, heavy airstrikes against al-Shabaab were also reported over the weekend on the border of the Middle Shabelle region and the Galgaduud, which is further north than the location of either of the strikes reported by AFRICOM. The report said dozens of fighters were killed in the attack and noted that the strikes were likely launched by AFRICOM, but so far, it hasn’t been confirmed.
Based on the airstrikes that have been confirmed by AFRICOM, the US has launched at least 71 airstrikes in Somalia this year, significantly more than the previous annual record of 63, which President Trump set back in 2019.
Besides the air war against al-Shabaab, the US has also been engaged in heavy airstrikes against the small ISIS affiliate in Somalia’s northeastern Puntland region, where the US is backing local security forces. In August, the US launched a total of nine airstrikes in Puntland during a two-week campaign against the ISIS militants in a remote mountain range.
