US says drone strike kills 2 militants in Somalia

0

MOGADISHU– The United States military says it has carried out a drone strike against Al-Shabaab fighters southwest of Somalia, killing 2 militants.

The US Africa Command statement says the airstrike occurred in Mubarak town, some 65km southwest of Somali capital Mogadishu, killing two militants, while another one was also injured.

“We assess no civilians were killed in this strike.”

US says none of its soldiers was killed or injured in the latest joint offensive against Al Qaeda linked Al-Shabaab.

The US has carried out a growing number of drone strikes in the Horn of Africa nation in coordination with Somalia’s government.

Most are against al-Shabaab but a small number have targeted Islamic State group-affiliated fighters in the Puntland region in the north.

The US carried out more than 30 drone strikes last year in Somalia after President Donald Trump approved expanded military efforts against al-Shabaab.