US STARTED CONDUCTING AIRSTRIKES AGAINST ISIS IN SOMALIA

On November 3, the US Army Africa Command (AFRICOM) announced in an official statement that American warplanes conducted two airstrikes against positions of ISIS in Somalia. AFRICOM said that several ISIS fighters were killed in the two airstrikes.

“U.S. forces will continue to use all authorized and appropriate measures to protect Americans and to disable terrorist threats. This includes partnering with AMISOM and Somali National Security Forces (SNSF); targeting terrorists, their training camps and safe havens throughout Somalia, the region and around the world,” AFRICOM said in its statement.

Meanwhile, the chairman of Qandala town, Jama Mohamed Qurshe told Voice Of America Agency that six missiles hit a base of ISIS in Buqa village, 60 kilometers south of Qandala town in the. Furthermore, a US official revealed to the CNN the strikes were carried out by an Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV).

The Somali National News Agency said that this the first time the US conduct airstrikes against ISIS in the country. Perversely, the US conducted dozens of airstrikes in Somalia against the al-Qaeda-affiliated al-Shabaab group.

The US airstrikes in Somalia could be linked to US president Donald Trump statement on November 3, when he promised that the US Army will hit ISIS “10 times harder” as a respond to Manhattan attack on October 31.

The US may also seek to boost its presence in the African Horn in order to expad its control over the strategic Gulf of Aden. The influence of the US and the Saudi-led block are steadily decreasing there because of a failed military campaign in Yemen and the growing Chinese military presence in the region.

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