U.S. strikes kills three in Somalia

ESAT News (September 7, 2017)

Al Shabaab militants parade new recruits after arriving in Mogadishufrom their training camp south of the capital in this October 21, 2010 file photo. The United States has carried out an air strike in Somalia, killing more than 150 fighters with the al Qaeda-linked Islamist group al Shabaab, following U.S. intelligence on preparations for a large-scale militant attack, the Pentagon said on March 7, 2016. REUTERS/Feisal Omar/Files

The United States said it has conducted a precision airstrike in central Somalia against al-Shabaab militants killing three of its members.

The strike on Tuesday was carried out in the Bay Region of Somalia, about 75 kilometers west of the capital, Mogadishu. The U.S. Africa command said in a statement that the Department of Defense conducted in support of African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and Somali National Army (SNA) forces that were operating in the area.

The U.S. has been carrying out a proxy war against Al- Shabaab using Ethiopian troops since 2007. But the Ethiopians have in recent years been withdrawing their troops citing lack of financial support. There still remain unofficial Ethiopian contingents in Somalia.

The Ethiopian troops have been accused of perpetrating war crimes, rape and abduction.