US air strike in Somalia kills eight al-Shabaab fighters

The United States military last week conducted an air strike in Somalia that killed eight fighters from al-Shabab, an affiliate of al Qaeda, U.S. Africa Command (Africom) said Monday.

The strike occurred Friday evening, northwest of the city of Kismayo and in conjunction with Somalia’s government, Africom said. The strike did not kill any civilians, but demolished a vehicle, according to the statement.

“U.S. forces will continue to use all authorized and appropriate measures to protect U.S. citizens and to disable terrorist threats,” Africom said Monday.

{mosads}“This includes partnering with AMISOM and Somali National Security Forces (SNSF) in combined counterterrorism operations and targeting terrorists, their training camps, and their safe havens throughout Somalia and the region.”

Africom said last month that it killed more than 100 al-Shabab militants in an airstrike on a camp northwest of the Somali capital.

The U.S. military last month went after fighters from the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in Somalia for the first time. Some fighters from al-Shabab in 2015 broke off from al Qaeda and pledged loyalty to ISIS.

The U.S. military this year ramped up airstrikes against al-Shabab, which has for years been battling the Somali government.