Friday’s U.S. airstrike in Puntland killed three ISIS militants and destroyed the group’s army camps in Af Cas village, located 80 km southeast of Bosaso town, reported Somalia’s Deputy Minister of Information, Abdirahman Yusuf Al-Addala.
The Minister, speaking with VOA Somali, said the airstrike followed an attack carried out a week ago in the Almadow area of the Bari region in Puntland State. He noted that Af Cas was a place where civilians were held hostage by ISIS. Several people were rescued, and there were no civilian casualties in the operation conducted by American forces.
Extensive measures were taken to avoid harming non-combatants, AFRICOM also confirmed, emphasizing that no civilian casualties occurred.
“Numerous attacks have been conducted globally by ISIS, including terrorist attacks in Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, all while continuing to plot against U.S. homeland and personnel and interests around the world, as well as regional partners, and others globally,” AFRICOM said in a statement. “Somalia remains central to the security environment in East Africa. U.S. Africa Command’s forces will continue training, advising, and equipping partner forces to degrade ISIS,” the spokesperson added.
Puntland’s role in the operation was not specified by the Minister. However, he stated that the Federal Government can conduct operations in any part of the country with the help of international allies.
