NAIROBI: The U.S. military said on Monday it had killed 62 militants in six air strikes over the weekend in the vicinity of Gandarsh in Somalia's south-central Banaadir province.

The military's Africa Command (Africom) said four strikes were carried out on Saturday, killing 34 militants, and two more on Sunday, which killed 28. "Africa Command and our Somali partners conducted these air strikes to prevent terrorists from using remote areas as a safe haven to plot, direct, inspire and recruit for future attacks," Africom said in a statement.

The air strikes, among the deadliest this year, did not kill any civilians, the statement said.

"At this time we assess these air strikes did not injure or kill any civilians."

The United States carries out regular air strikes in Somalia in support of a U.N.-backed government there, which has been fighting against an al Shabaab insurgency for years.

Last month, the U.S. military said it had killed 37 militants.

In Washington, the Pentagon cited 45 strikes against al Shabaab militants this year, after 35 strikes in 2017.

As of August 2018, the Pentagon believes there were 3,000 to 7,000 al Shabaab fighters and 70 to 250 Islamic State militants in Somalia, Pentagon spokesman Colonel Robert Manning said during a press briefing. </s> The US has killed 62 militants in six air strikes in Somalia's south-central Banaadir province, the country's military says.

The Africa Command (Africom) says four strikes were carried out on Saturday near Gandarsh, killing 34 militants, and two more on Sunday, which killed 28.

"Africa Command and our Somali partners conducted these air strikes to prevent terrorists from using remote areas as a safe haven to plot, direct, inspire and recruit for future attacks," Africom said in a statement.

The air strikes, among the deadliest this year, did not kill any civilians, the statement said.

The United States carries out regular air strikes in Somalia in support of a UN-backed government there, which has been fighting against an al-Shabaab insurgency for years.

Last month, the US military said it had killed 37 militants.

In Washington, the Pentagon cited 45 strikes against al-Shabaab militants this year after 35 strikes in 2017.

As of August 2018, the Pentagon believes there were 3000 to 7000 al-Shabaab fighters and 70 to 250 Islamic State militants in Somalia, Pentagon spokesman Colonel Robert Manning said during a media briefing. </s> NAIROBI (Reuters) - The U.S. military said on Monday it had killed 62 militants in six air strikes on Saturday and Sunday in the vicinity of Gandarsh in Somalia’s south-central Banaadir province.

The military’s Africa Command (Africom) said four strikes were carried out on Saturday, killing 34 militants, and two more on Sunday, which killed 28. “Africa Command and our Somali partners conducted these air strikes to prevent terrorists from using remote areas as a safe haven to plot, direct, inspire and recruit for future attacks,” Africom said in a statement.

The air strikes, among the deadliest this year, did not kill any civilians, the statement said.

“At this time we assess these air strikes did not injure or kill any civilians.”

The United States carries out regular air strikes in Somalia in support of a U.N.-backed government there, which has been fighting against an al Shabaab insurgency for years.

Last month, the U.S. military said it had killed 37 militants. </s> WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A recent U.S. air strike in Somalia killed about 60 al Shabaab militants in the largest strike against the group in nearly a year, the U.S. military said on Tuesday.

In a statement, the U.S. military said a strike last week near Harardere, Somalia, killed “approximately sixty terrorists.”

In November 2017, more than 100 militants from Islamist al Shabaab group were killed in a U.S. air strike. </s> The U.S. military over the weekend unleashed an intense air assault targeting al-Shabaab militants in Somalia, killing at least 62 in a series of strikes aimed at denying the terrorist group a safe haven from which to launch attacks.

The strikes in the Gandarshe region of Somalia — which mark the latest step in a growing U.S.-led military campaign targeting the terrorist group in Africa — were conducted in coordination with the Somali government, U.S. Africa Command said in a statement early Monday morning.

At least 34 militants were killed on Saturday and another 28 killed Sunday, Pentagon officials said.

The military said no civilians were killed or injured in any of the six separate bombings.

“All six airstrikes … targeted a known al-Shabaab encampment,” U.S. Africa Command said in the statement. “U.S. Africa Command and our Somali partners conducted these airstrikes to prevent terrorists from using remote areas as a safe haven to plot, direct, inspire, and recruit for future attacks.”

“We are committed to preventing al-Shabaab from taking advantage of safe havens from which they can build capacity and attack the people of Somalia,” the U.S. military said. “In particular, the group uses portions of southern and central Somalia to plot and direct terror attacks, steal humanitarian aid, extort the local populace to fund its operations, and shelter radical terrorists.”

The U.S. in recent months has ramped up its air campaign against the terrorist group, which is affiliated with al Qaeda. There are estimated to be as many as 9,000 al-Shabaab fighters across Somalia.

In addition to the continuing air strikes, there have also been clashes between al-Shabaab fighters and U.S. forces on the ground in Somalia.

Last June, an American soldier was killed and another four wounded in a firefight with militants in southwestern Somalia. </s> NAIROBI (Reuters) - A U.S. air strike in central Somalia on Monday killed 20 al Shabaab fighters, the U.S. Africa Command said on Tuesday.

The United States carries out regular air strikes in Somalia in support of a United Nations-backed government there, which has been fighting against an al Shabaab insurgency for years.

The Africa Command (Africom) said U.S. forces targeted an al Shabaab training camp near Shebeeley, Hiran Region, that was used to stage attacks.

“It is assessed this airstrike killed 20 terrorists and destroyed one vehicle,” it said.

No independent confirmation was available.

While the pace of strikes has increased recently, it is unclear what lasting impact, if any, the strikes are having on the militant group.

Al Shabaab wants to overthrow the weak, U.N.-backed Somali government and impose strict Islamic law. </s> About 62 militants from the jihadist al-Shabab movement have been killed following six air strikes by the US Military in Somalia.

The US military said Monday that four strikes on Saturday killed 34 militants and another two on Sunday killed 28.

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The air attacks, in a coastal region south of Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, were the deadliest in the country since November last year when the US said it had killed 100 militants.

According to a statement by the US Africa Command, all six airstrikes were “conducted to prevent al-Shabab from using remote areas as a safe haven to plot, direct, inspire, and recruit for future attacks,”. </s> Washington, United States | AFP | The US military said Monday it has killed 62 militants from the jihadist Shabaab movement in six air strikes in Somalia.

Four strikes on Saturday killed 34 militants and another two on Sunday killed 28, the US Africa Command said in a statement.

The air attacks, in a coastal region south of Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, were the deadliest in the country since November last year when the US said it had killed 100 militants.

The strikes were conducted with “our Somali partners to prevent terrorists from using remote areas as safe havens to plot, direct, inspire and recruit for future attacks,” Pentagon spokesman Colonel Rob Manning said, noting that no civilians had been killed or injured.

The action brings to 45 the number of strikes the Pentagon has conducted against Shabaab so far in 2018, Manning said.

Last year, the figure was 35. Manning attributed the increase to operations becoming more “efficient.”

“We’re getting better. And because we’re getting better we’re able to … find, fix and eliminate those terrorist organizations,” Manning said.

The surge in US operations in Somalia came after President Donald Trump in March 2017 loosened the constraints on the US military to take actions against alleged terrorists when they judge it is needed, without seeking specific White House approval.

American forces are partnering with African Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM) and Somali national security forces in counterterrorism operations, and have conducted frequent raids and drone strikes on Shabaab training camps throughout Somalia.

As of August, the Pentagon assesses there to be between 3,000 and 7,000 Shabaab fighters and 70 to 250 Islamic State Somalia fighters in the Horn of Africa nation. </s> WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. military said on Monday that a recent air strike in central Somalia killed 35 al Shabaab fighters.

The United States carries out regular air strikes in Somalia in support of a United Nations-backed government there, which has been fighting against an al Shabaab insurgency for years.

In a statement, U.S. Africa Command said the strike took place on Sunday near Beledweyne, Hiran Region in Somalia.

“This air strike targeted armed al Shabaab militants as they were transitioning between locations in a rural area,” the statement added.

While the pace of strikes has increased recently, it is unclear what lasting impact, if any, the strikes are having on the militant group.

Al Shabaab wants to overthrow the weak, U.N.-backed Somali government and impose strict Islamic law.
Six U.S. air strikes over the weekend kill at least 62 Al-Shabaab militants in Somalia, according to The Pentagon.