Two Al-Shabaab fighters killed in US airstrike in Somalia: AFRICOM

Airstrike first since redeployment of American troops in Somalia in May

Two Al-Shabaab fighters have been killed in US airstrike near Libikus, northwest of Kismayo, according to the US Africa Command (AFRICOM).

In a statement on Monday, AFRICOM said the attack took place on July 17 in “defence of partner forces [the Somali National Army – SNA]” after they were attacked by the terrorists.

There were no civilian casualties according to the statement. “The command’s initial assessment is that two al-Shabaab terrorists were killed in action and that no civilians were injured or killed given the remote nature of where this engagement occurred,”  it read.

The airstrike is the first since US President Joe Biden ordered the redeployment of US forces in the Horn of African country in May after his predecessor Donald Trump ordered their withdrawal in December 2020.