A U.S. shift in Somalia strategy

Continuing drone strikes in support of African forces battling Shabab extremists signal a new role.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. is shifting to a more direct role in the nearly decade-old fight against Al Qaeda-affiliated Shabab militants, launching as many as six drone strikes in southern Somalia over the last week to support African forces battling the group, American officials said.

The strikes, which preceded President Obama’s arrival in neighboring Kenya on Friday, were near Baraawe, a port city where troops from Kenya and other African countries, along with the fledgling Somali army, have been battling Shabab for weeks.

The U.S. cast the initial airstrike a week ago as a defensive maneuver to stop Shabab fighters who were moving to attack a base being used by pro-government soldiers. Kenyan forces followed the U.S. attacks with an artillery barrage that killed more than 50 fighters.

But the drone attacks have continued, officials said, a rare instance in which U.S. firepower has been used to directly support ground skirmishes against the militants responsible for a wave of bombings and suicide attacks in East Africa.

The U.S. has provided intelligence, training and other logistical support to the Somali army and to African Union troops based there for years. Until now, however, the U.S. had confined its role to targeted drone strikes and special operations raids against Shabab leadership.

“It’s a change in how we’re providing support,” said a U.S. military official who was not authorized to speak publicly on the matter. “Up until now, we’ve focused strikes on high-value targets. These strikes were launched to defend forces on the ground.”

The decision to go on the offensive was a stroke of tactical luck, U.S. military officers said, after surveillance drones spotted fighters gathering in large numbers near Baraawe, which was once a Shabab stronghold.

“They’re massing,” said a senior U.S. official, referring to Shabab, “and massing provides targets, and targets get struck.” He spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive operations.

The U.S. military’s Africa Command, which oversees military operations on the continent, confirmed the airstrikes, but said the timing was not related to Obama’s visit to Kenya and Ethiopia.

“Over the past week, U.S. forces conducted a series of strikes against Al Shabab in defense of AMISOM forces under imminent threat of attack,” Patrick Barnes, a spokesman for the command, said in a statement. “The strikes prevented attacks by militants, which posed a significant threat to friendly forces.”

AMISOM is the African Union Mission in Somalia, a rotating force of about 22,000 troops from Kenya, Uganda, Burundi, Ethiopia and Djibouti.

Since deploying to Somalia in 2007, the troops have retaken the capital, Mogadishu, and driven militants from many towns in the south. Though weakened, the rebels have carried out frequent shootings, bombings and suicide attacks, and still control many rural areas.