Second US strike against ISIS in Somalia kills one militant

US forces killed one ISIS militant in northeastern Somalia Monday in the second airstrike against the group in Somalia, Africom said.

The US Africa Command (Africom) said in a statement Monday it conducted an aerial bombardment against ISIS target 3 am local time.

“In coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia, U.S. forces conducted an airstrike against ISIS, in northeastern Somalia on Nov. 27, killing one terrorist.”

The attack adds to at least ten the number of strikes the US forces have conducted in Somalia this month alone and more than 30 since the beginning of the year. The first attack November 3 against ISIS ‘killed several terrorists’, Africom said.

A break-away faction of Shabaab declared allegiance to ISIS in 2015 led by former UK preacher Abdulqadir Mumin and went ahead to briefly capture the ancient port town of Qandala late last year before they were driven off in a joint US-Puntland forces operation.

General Ahmed Mohamed Tredishe the head of the 52 infantry division of the Somali National Army said Sunday Al-Shabaab militants were fleeing Lower and Middle Shabelel regions heading to the central and northern regions of Galgadud and Mudug as allied forces intensified attacks. Some of the leaders, Gen. Tredishe said were already pitching camp in Galgala mountain ranges in Puntland where the Mumin-led faction made its first public declaration.