Unidentified airstrikes target al-Shabab militants in southern Somalia

[Deeq A.]

Unidentified airstrike targeted suspected Al-Shabab militants in their hideouts in two locations of southern Somalia on Sunday, residents and security officials confirmed on Monday.

The security officials said the airstrikes bombarded the insurgents’ hideouts in El-Adde and Goof areas on Sunday, inflicting injuries on the militants.

“Unknown airstrikes hit El-Adde and Goof locations in southern Somalia. The militants suffered heavy casualties during the strikes over El-Adde though exact battle damage assessments have been not established,” said a security official who declined to be named said.

Local residents said they have not established whether Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) soldiers who are part of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) were behind the latest airstrikes in southern part of the Horn of Africa nation.

In January 15, 2016, al-Shabab fighters attacked a KDF camp in El-Adde in southern Somalia, killing some 100 soldiers in the worst attack since the troops crossed into the Horn of Africa nation in 2011.

Since the deadly attack, the Kenyan soldiers have been targeting the El-Adde area which lies near Garbaharey town in Gedo region to flush out the militants.

The United States military which last year carried out about 30 airstrikes against al-Shabab has also intensified assault against the al-Qaida allied terrorist group in the recent past.

Source: Xinhua net