(FreedomBeacon.com)- Local Somalian officials have reported that 13 members of the al-Shabab Islamist terrorist organization were killed on Sunday by an American airstrike.
According to Bloomberg, the strike occurred in the central Somalian region of Hiiran. State-owned national TV was the first to report it.
According to US Africa Command, this is the second attack this week against al-Shabab fighters. American military or civilian sources have not yet confirmed the Sunday strike in Somalia.
Under President Joe Biden, US military forces have been present in the area after former President Donald Trump had ordered a departure.
This occurs as the American military in the region undergoes more modifications.
Marine General Michael Langley assumed the top U.S. commander for Africa on Tuesday. He is leading American military operations on a continent with some of the most active and dangerous insurgent organizations and a relatively modest Pentagon footprint,
In a ceremony held at Kelley Barracks in Stuttgart, Germany, Langley made history on Saturday by becoming the first African American Marine Corps four-star general.
The command, which includes between 6,000 and 7,000 soldiers across the continent, has had an African American as its commander twice before.
Army Gen. Stephen Townsend, the outgoing commander, spoke at the occasion and brought up the continent’s frequently meager troop and resource allocation.
Every day brings a new difficulty, and we don’t have the means to tackle it. Therefore, we have to think,” said Townsend, who is leaving the service after 40 years.
The United States can’t afford to ignore Africa. The continent is at a historical turning point, full of possibilities and challenges.
The Pentagon’s focus has been dominated for years by the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, the unrest in the Middle East, a greater emphasis on a more aggressive and competitive China, and the recent conflict in Ukraine.
Meanwhile, al-Qaida and Islamic State fighters thrive in ungoverned areas of Africa, and al-Shabab continues to pose a severe threat in Somalia.
Austin made a note of the choice on Tuesday, stating that it is essential that the U.S. military continues to support and train Somali forces as al-attacks Shabab’s on civilians become more heinous and blatant.
