US fires 4th airstrike against Al-Shabaab in three weeks

GOOBJOOG NEWS|BAKOOL:   The US has conducted its fourth airstrike against the militant group Al-Shabaab since the beginning of the year.

African Command (AFRICOM) said in a statement Monday the strike destroyed an Al-Shabaab compound in Tiyeeglow located in the southwestern Bakool region.

It added that there were no civilian casualties based on initial assessments. The strike is the fourth this year as the US forces ramp up offensives against Al-Shabaab which has also increased ground attacks against civilians and security forces.

Nine militants have since been killed in the four airstrikes.

The outgoing Trump administration said Sunday it has completed the withdrawal of its troops from Somalia who will now be relocated to neighbouring Kenya and Djibouti.