US governmen has halted all drone airstrikes in Somalia barely two months after US troops in the horn of Africa nation moved to other countries in the region.
The administration of President Joe Biden has announced that they suspending aerial bombardment against Al-shabaab saying any airstrike outside of war zones where US forces are operating will have to get authorisation from White House.
“Any drone strikes planned against jihadist groups outside of Afghanistan, Syria or Iraq will have to be approved by the White House,” Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said Monday.
He described the measure as “interim guidance” that was issued “to ensure that the president has full visibility on proposed significant actions.”
“It’s not meant to be permanent and it doesn’t mean a cessation” of strikes, he told a news conference.
“We are clearly focused on the persistent threat of violent extremist organizations. And we’re clearly still going to be committed to working with international partners to counter those threats,” he said.
Since U.S. President Joe Biden took office January 20, the United States has not launched a single airstrike against al-Shabab in Somalia, after seven strikes were conducted from January 1 to 19.
Last airstrikes include an airstrike that destroyed an al-Shabab compound near Tiyeeglow on Jan. 18, and two more strikes killed three al-Shabab operatives the following day near Jamaame and Deb-Scinnele
AFRICOM conducted 52 airstrikes in 2020, 63 in 2019, 47 in 2018, and 35 in 2017,
AFRICOM has conducted three airstrikes against al-Shabab compounds and key leaders in Somalia since Jan. 15, an estimated 700 troops withdraw from the country on orders from former President Donald Trump.
