by Itunuoluwa Adebo
According to Fox News , a U.S. Navy SEAL was killed fighting terror group Al-Shabaab – Al Qaeda’s third-largest affiliate in Somalia, Thursday. U.S.
U.S. Africa Command spokesman, Patrick Barnes said it appeared to be the first combat death of a U.S. service member in Somalia since 1993, three other SEALs were wounded in the gunfight in Somalia, one official said; however, the Pentagon would not disclose the extent of the injuries due to privacy concerns.
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“U.S. forces were conducting an advise and assist mission alongside members of the Somali National Army” near Bari, about 40 miles west of Mogadishu, U.S. Africa Command added.
A Somali intelligence official confirmed the U.S. military operation to The Associated Press, saying U.S. forces in helicopters raided an Al-Shabaab hideout near the Somali capital on Thursday night and engaged with fighters. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media, said the helicopters dropped soldiers near Dar es Salaam village in an attempt to capture or kill extremists in the area.
Al-Shabaab “presents a threat to Americans and American interests,” the U.S. Africa Command statement said.
In late March, the White House approved a Pentagon request to conduct offensive operations against Al-Shabaab in Somalia. This meant drone strikes and raids were given the green light to happen outside of self-defense, which was the previous policy under the Obama administration.
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