Air strikes kill over 100 Al-Shabaab militants in southern Somalia

Saturday April 15, 2017
MOGADISHU, April 15 (Xinhua) -- More than 100 Al-Shabaab militants
including 20 commanders are believed to have been killed in southern Somalia by
U.S. air strikes early Saturday, residents and officials said.
The residents and security officers said the warplanes targeted
the militants' hideouts in Wargaduud and El-Adde where several Kenyan soldiers
were killed by Al-Shabaab militants in January 2016.
Among senior Al-Shabaab commanders killed are Abdirahman Fillow
and Abdirahman Ben Dutie in the dawn attack that also destroyed two vehicles
bound explosive devices (VBIED) at Wargaduud. Dutie is from Marehanrer Dalal
section.
"Yesterday (Friday) night at Wargaduud and El-Adde, U.S.
airstrikes killed 20 Al-Shabaab commanders among them Abdirahman Fillow and
about 85 militants," said a security official who declined to be
identified.
"The strike
happened at 2 a.m. The siege continues," he added. Residents in El-Adde
reported hearing the sound of explosions believed to be air strikes just after
Friday midnight.
"There was heavy bombardment on Al-Shabaab base near El-Adde
town targeting Al-Shabaab base but we don't know the number of casualties. We
heard sounds of the jets and then bombs," said one of the residents.
The bombardment came after U.S. military officials confirmed that
its soldiers have deployed to Somalia to train and equip Somali and AMISOM
forces fighting extremism in Somalia.
The team is reportedly carrying out a train-and-equip mission that
is expected to last through the end of September, according to American
officials.
The U.S. soldiers will join the small number of U.S. special
operations forces already there providing counterterrorism support to local
forces battling Al-Shabaab.
The U.S. maintains a small force unit of about 50 troops in
Somalia mainly to advise and assist Somalia and AMISOM troops battling
Al-Shabaab militants.
Though they are not in Somalia to conduct combat operations, when
called in, their helicopters, drones and manned aircraft are available for
quick reaction air strikes.
U.S. President Donald Trump in March granted additional authority
to U.S. Africa Command to conduct counterterrorism airstrikes against the
terror group.
The bombardment came after Kenyan security agents have been put on
alert following intelligence reports at least nine Kenyan terrorists who had
joined Al-Shabaab terror group in Somalia could be headed back to the country
to launch attacks.
The Kenyans are moving back to Kenya following sustained attacks
by the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) who are part of the AU mission in Somalia
(AMISOM) and Somalia National Army (SNA).
Police have urged Kenyans to be wary of the suspects and warned
they could be in the country and planning an attack.
Over the past months KDF troops have killed at least 90 Al-Shabaab
terrorists in attacks in Somalia, which has reportedly weakened the group's
capability.
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