US steps up drone strikes on militants

MOGADISHU: The US military has quietly upped the tempo of its operations in Somalia, conducting a growing number of drone strikes against al-Qaeda affiliated Shebab militants and other jihadists.

Since the start of the year, America has carried out 28 drone strikes in the Horn of Africa nation, with 15 of these coming since Sept 1, the military’s Africa Command (Africom) said.

According to the London-based Bureau of Investigative Journalism, which maintains a tally of US operations in Somalia and elsewhere, there were 15 anti-Shebab air strikes in the whole of last year.

The surge in activity comes as the US watches for an influx of fighters from the Islamic State group, which has lost almost all its territory in Iraq and Syria.

The US conducted a pair of drone strikes against IS in Somalia on Nov 3.

Though the Pentagon has provided few details about the strikes, spokesman Colonel Rob Manning said this week that US forces had killed 40 Shebab and IS fighters in a series of five strikes on Somalia between Nov 9 and last Sunday.

On Wednesday, Africom announced a sixth strike killed “several” Shebab militants 97 kilometres northwest of Mogadishu.

The surge in activity comes after President Donald Trump in March loosened constraints on the US military in Somalia, allowing commanders to take action against suspected terrorists when they judge it is needed, without seeking specific White House approval.

The US is supporting the country’s fight against Shebab, which has carried out a string of devastating bombings in Mogadishu and elsewhere.

In May, officials said only about 50 US troops were in Somalia providing training and advice for the Somali military and logistical support, but on Thursday the Pentagon said the figure is now at about 500.

Pentagon spokesman and Joint Staff Director Lieutenant General Kenneth McKenzie told reporters on Thursday that he didn’t necessarily think there was a ramping-up of operations, but said the “density of targets” meant more strikes had been possible.