US Africa Command (AFRICOM) announced that it launched an airstrike in Somalia on June 1, marking the second US bombing in the country within a week and the third since May 20.
AFRICOM said the strike was launched about 37 miles southwest of Kismayo, a port city in southern Somalia. The command claimed the strike killed three al-Shabaab fighters and that its “initial assessment” found no civilians were harmed, but the Pentagon is notorious for undercounting civilian casualties.
The last US airstrike was launched on May 26 and came after al-Shabaab attacked an African Union base housing Ugandan troops. Uganda said on Saturday that 54 of its soldiers were killed in the attack. The US said its airstrike destroyed military equipment that al-Shabaab took from the base.
AFRICOM said that the US strike on May 20 wounded one al-Shabaab member. The May 20 airstrike marked the first known US bombing in the country claimed by AFRICOM since February 21.
US airstrikes in Somalia escalated toward the end of 2022 and at the beginning of 2023 as the US-backed Mogadishu-based government launched an offensive against al-Shabaab. The US has also stepped up military aid and training of the Somali government’s military.
In May 2022, President Biden ordered the deployment of up to 500 troops to Somalia. When Congress recently debated a resolution introduced by Matt Gaetz (R-FL) to withdraw from Somalia, House members said there were 900 US troops in the country. Gaetz’s resolution failed in a vote of 102-321.
I have some friends/acquaintances from Somalia but what the ef do we care about that country?
Are we really that concerned about those people or is it just that paticular shipping choke point at the end?
Somalia is one of the most strategically located countries on the planet. Merchant wealth from the 7th century to today. The items these merchants sell change over the centuries ofcourse, but whom controls the flow of spice controls an immense amount of wealth. This was the Somalis themselves, a muslim people from the beginning of time until the shift and growth of the Solomonic empire (christians), 14th centur-ish. Once this happened, non somalis, or just christians from other areas supported the Solomonic side, as a result imperialistic nations recognized it’s power and have been fighting for control every since. This is exactly what we have today. Outside imperialist (not just US) wanting to control the “trade” of “whatever” — the current Christians, siding with the corrupt government (modern Solomonic Empire) agains the native muslims, or what we call today terrorists.
So, we care about the geographical location. Not the people. This is not just today, but the beginning of time. There is nothing you can do but to pray for the people whom are native and born of the rich land that is modern Somalia
So it’s not the people but the trade route that you just described…..lol.
Of course it’s the chockpoint.