MOGADISHU, Somalia — U.S. and Somali commandos seized three men thought to be commanders with the al-Shabab extremist group during a deadly raid in a village in Lower Shabelle region, Somali intelligence officials said Thursday.
Five people thought to be banana farmers were killed in the raid late Wednesday and several others were captured, Moalim Ahmed Nur, a traditional elder in the village, told The Associated Press.
RELATED
This is the first time U.S. forces have targeted ISIS in the region and may be an indicator the terror group is trying to reconstitute itself in the Horn of Africa after suffering massive territorial losses in Iraq and Syria.
A Somali intelligence official said the forces targeted a key hideout and coordination center for the Somalia-based al-Shabab. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media.
The U.S. Africa Command did not immediately comment on the raid. The U.S. has stepped up military efforts against al-Shabab, the deadliest Islamic extremist group in sub-Saharan Africa, under the Trump administration.
That stepped-up military involvement, however, has come with some allegations by Somalis that civilians have been killed.
People who described themselves as relatives of the people killed in Wednesday’s raid expressed bewilderment.
“They were not armed nor were they al-Shabab members,” said Ibrahim Ahmed, who said he was a family member of one man killed.
“I don’t understand why a farm would make a target for a raid,” he added, pointing at one of the bloodied bodies that had been laid out on the ground outside a hospital in the capital, Mogadishu.
Bodies of civilians, especially those killed in misdirected attacks, often are taken from remote areas to Mogadishu to draw media attention.
Sunday’s statement comes as North Korea’s neighbors say the country is ready for its first nuclear test in five years
Air Force linguists scrambled to keep up through the Afghanistan withdrawal and, now, the war in Ukraine.
Some 6,000 people, including Navy, Army and Air Force families, suffered nausea, headaches, rashes and other symptoms.
Russia said it withdrew its forces from the island as a “goodwill gesture.” Ukraine said the Russians fled following a barrage of artillery and missiles.
Biden announced the permanent basing of a U.S. military garrison in Poland. He also said the U.S. is sending two additional F-35 fighter jet squadrons to the U.K. and more air defense and other capabilities to Germany and Italy.
Congress wants to see a boost in U.S. military presence through permanent basing and rotational deployment as the Russian invasion of Ukraine continues.
It's not every day that a butterfly enthusiast gets an M4A1. But Monday was that day.
Some schools have reported significant problems in navigating recent changes to veterans education benefits.
Some of the highest concentrations of PFAS chemicals in the country have been found at and around military bases.
One of two Ohio National Guardsmen arrested this spring for making terroristic threats has now been charged with illegally making and selling 3D-printed guns.
Patience is the key to owning the car of your dreams without breaking the bank.
The service quickly backtracked on the policy, which was revealed last week.
Poppas will take command of FORSCOM from Gen. Michael X. Garrett.
Hershel “Woody” Williams, awarded the nation's highest combat honor in 1945, passed away Wednesday.
Relatives say Lois “Bunny” Drueke spoke to her son Alexander Drueke, one of two Alabama veterans captured earlier this month in Ukraine, via telephone.
Load More