U.S. forces in coordination with the Somali government conducted an air strike in Somalia’s northeastern Bari region over the weekend, killing 27 al-Shabaab militants, the U.S. Africa Command Africom said Monday. The airstrike took place southwest of the coastal town of Bosasso, the capital of Bari, on June 2, Africom said in a statement.
Africom said it currently assesses that no civilians were killed in the airstrike. “U.S. forces will continue to use all authorized and appropriate measures to protect U.S. citizens and to disable terrorist threats” in Somalia, the statement said.
U.S. President Donald Trump authorized the conducting of airstrikes in Somalia soon after taking office. Reports say the death toll of up to 80 people, including the death of the Puntland forces in the wake of the US air strikes, has increased.