The Somali government and US Africa Command declared the first US action in 53 days, reporting an airstrike on an al Shabaab checkpoint in the vicinity of Hantiwadaag, in Lower Shabelle. One alleged militant was reported killed.

Declaring the attack, Somalia’s Ministry of Information said the strike had taken place in the afternoon. “The FGS, in partnership with the US Africa Command @USAfricaCommand conducted an airstrike against al-Shabaab militants in the vicinity of Hantiwadaag in Lower Shabelle , Somalia. This precision airstrike killed one al-Shabaab militant.”

AFRICOM followed with its own press release shortly afterwards, noting that “In coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia, U.S. Africa Command conducted an airstrike targeting an al-Shabaab checkpoint in vicinity of Hantiwadaag, Somalia, July 9. ‘Al-Shabaab are using checkpoints to threaten, extort and restrict the movement of innocent people in Mogadishu and Lower Shabelle region,’ said U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Bradford Gering, director of operations, U.S. Africa Command. ‘Al-Shabaab’s actions continue to impede much needed economic development and progress.’

“The command’s initial assessment concluded this airstrike killed one (1) terrorist and destroyed an al-Shabaab checkpoint. U.S. Africa Command currently assesses no civilians were injured or killed as a result of this airstrike.”

After an initially intense US campaign against terror group al Shabaab in early 2020, US strikes had effectively halted in mid May, likely as a result of the global Covid-19 pandemic.