American forces killed an al-Shabaab fighter in an airstrike Saturday carried out about 250 miles southwest of Mogadishu.
U.S. Africa Command stated in a press release the combatant participated in attacks against American and Somali convoys and American forces observed him doing so.
“U.S. forces subsequently conducted the strike under collective self-defense authorities,” the release stated.
The U.S. is supporting the Somali government’s fight against al-Shabaab, a terrorist organization that has pledged itself to al-Qaeda.
Al-Shabaab carried out multiple destructive car bomb attacks in Mogadishu, the country’s capital, last month, killing hundreds. The U.S. has been involved in Somalia since 2013 after also fighting there during the mid-1990s.
An American service member was killed in Somalia earlier this year.
“Al-Shabaab has pledged allegiance to al-Qaeda and is dedicated to providing safe haven for terrorist attacks throughout the world. Al-Shabaab has publicly committed to planning and conducting attacks against the U.S. and our partners in the region,” the statement read. “U.S. forces will continue to use all authorized and appropriate measures to protect Americans and to disable terrorist threats.”
