The U.S. military and Somalia President Farmajo announced that the U.S. carried out a strike against the al-Shabaab militant network inside Somalia and killed eight militants at around 2 am Eastern on June 11. Farmajo called it a “successful strike which destroyed a key al-Shabaab command and supply hub.”
Earlier today, I authorized our special forces with the support of our international partners to conduct a strike against an al-Shabaab training camp near Sakow, Middle Juba region. This was a successful strike which destroyed a key al-Shabaab command and supply hub. This will ultimately disrupt the enemy’s ability to conduct new attacks within Somalia.
-President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo
The location struck is approximately 185 miles southwest of Mogadishu near the town of Saakow.
The strike was allowed under new rules defined by U.S. President Trump, according to Pentagon Chief Spokesperson Dana White. The new rules “allow the U.S. Department of Defense to conduct legal action against al-Shabaab within a geographically-defined area of active hostilities in support of partner force in Somalia.”
A U.S. Navy SEAL was killed last month while carrying out an operation against al-Shabaab.
Strike was against #AlShabaab command & logistics node in camp in #Somalia – 8 militants killed, says @USAfricaCommand #breaking pic.twitter.com/f3fk7QM1sW
— Carla Babb (@CarlaBabbVOA) June 11, 2017