The U.S. military, in self-defense and in defense of its African Union Mission in Somalia, or AMISOM, partners, yesterday conducted an airstrike in Somalia against Raso Camp, Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook said in a statement released today.
The camp is a training facility of al-Shabaab, which is a terrorist group affiliated with al-Qaeda, Cook said. The strike was conducted using manned and unmanned aircraft, he said, and the fighters who were scheduled to depart the camp posed an imminent threat to U.S. and AMISOM forces.
“The removal of these fighters degrades al-Shabaab's ability to meet the group's objectives in Somalia, including recruiting new members, establishing bases and planning attacks on U.S. and AMISOM forces,” Cook said.
The results of the operation are under assessment, he said, and additional information will be provided, when appropriate, as it is available.