WASHINGTON (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 26th February, 2019) US forces killed at least 35 al-Shabab terrorists in a recent airstrike in the central Somali region of Hiran, United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) said in a press release on Monday.
"US forces conducted an airstrike approximately 23 miles east of Beledweyne, Hiran Region, Somalia, on February 24, 2019," the release said. "The airstrike targeted armed al-Shabaab militants as they were transitioning between locations in a rural areas. At this time, it is assessed this airstrike killed 35 terrorists."
AFRICOM believes that no civilians were killed or injured in the airstrike, the release said.
The attack was part of a larger effort to support the Somali National Army as it increases pressure on the al-Shabab terrorist network and its recruiting efforts in the region, the release said.
Al-Shabab emerged in Somalia in 2006 and has claimed numerous terrorist attacks throughout the region. The group has sworn allegiance to the al-Qaeda terrorist organization (banned in Russia).
