Somalia in recent years, with at least 14 such operations taking place in 2016, according to report released.
In March 2016, the US announced that it had killed more than 150 Al Shabaab fighters who “posed an imminent threat to US and [African Union] forces”. While that report has not been independently verified, US air strikes in Somalia have come under criticism for failing to present evidence of US military officials’ announcements.
However, the US military’s advice and assist mission has transitioned and the AFRICOM commander, Gen. Thomas Waldhauser, said that “military operations” in Somalia conducted by US Special Forces have “become a little more complex and a little more dangerous”.
In September, the US carried out an airstrike killing at least 10 persons that US military initially described as a “self-defense air strike” against Al Shabaab fighters