AFRICOM for April 2, 2020 – April 2, 2020
Original
Annotated
In coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia, U.S. Africa Command conducted an airstrike targeting al-Shabaab terrorists in the vicinity of Bush Madina, Somalia, on April 2, 2020.
“Precision airstrikes like this protect innocent Somalis from a common enemy and assist the Federal Government of Somalia in alleviating security challenges,” said U.S. Marine Corps Brig. Gen. Bradford J. Gering, deputy director of operations, U.S. Africa Command. “We’re enabling progress and creating opportunities for our partners to capitalize on. We’re seeing them do just that on the ground.”
The command’s initial assessment concluded this airstrike killed three (3) terrorists.
We currently assess no civilians were injured or killed as a result of this airstrike.
U.S. Africa Command and our international partners recognize that stability in Somalia will not be achieved through purely military means. It requires providing programs and opportunity for the Somalia people.
In support of the Federal Government of Somalia, U.S. forces will use all effective and appropriate methods to assist in the protection of the Somali people, including partnered military counterterrorism operations with the Federal Government of Somalia and Somali National Army forces. Together with the partner and allied forces, U.S. Africa Command works on a daily basis to improve security conditions to enhance governance and economic development.
U.S. Africa Command continues to work with its Somali partners to transfer the responsibility for long-term security in Somalia to the Federal Government of Somalia and its Member States.