U.S. military airstrike in Somalia kills Al-Shabaab militant

A member of the Somali Islamist militant group Al-Shabaab was killed in an airstrike by the United States military, the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) said in a statement.

AFRICOM said that the airstrike took place in the vicinity of Saakow in Somalia’s Middle Juba region on Tuesday.

The airstrike was targeting an unidentified Al-Shabaab senior leader, according to AFRICOM.

“Working with our Somali partners, we continue to weaken and degrade the al-Shabaab network. Our efforts are increasing security and helping to disrupt al-Shabaab’s future plans and ambitions,” AFRICOM deputy director for operations U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Bradford Gering said.

AFRICOM said that a preliminary assessment indicated that no civilians were injured or killed as a result of the airstrike.

“Together with partner and international forces, U.S. Africa Command activities are designed to improve security conditions and prevent al-Shabaab’s desire to expand their reach,” AFRICOM’s statement read in part.

Al-Shabaab has waged a war against Somalia’s central government for several years in a bid to oust it and establish its own rule based on a strict interpretation of Islam’s sharia law.

The war has killed thousands of people and forced millions of others to flee their homes.