May 05, 2017•Update: May 05, 2017
By Hassan Istiila
MOGADISHU, Somalia
A U.S. service member was killed during operations against al-Shabaab militants in southern Somalia, the U.S. military announced Friday.
The service member was killed on Thursday 64 kilometers (40 miles) west of Mogadishu, Africa Command said in a statement.
"U.S. forces were conducting an advise and assist mission alongside members of the Somali National Army" at the time, it said.
The military did not disclose which service branch the member was from, nor did it give specifics on the details leading up to the death.
Two U.S. service members were injured in the operations, according to Somali officials who spoke to Anadolu Agency on condition of anonymity.
Speaking to reporters, al-Shabaab spokesman Sheikh Abulaziz Abu Muscab claimed that U.S. forces attacked Darussalam village in Lower Shabelle region with air support but "failed their mission".
The U.S. is currently carrying out an advise and assist mission with Somali forces while continuing a long-standing air campaign to target al-Shabaab.
"U.S. forces are assisting partner forces to counter al-Shabaab in Somalia to degrade the al-Qaeda affiliate's ability to recruit, train and plot external terror attacks throughout the region and in America," Africa Command said.
Africa Command commander Gen. Thomas Waldhauser met with Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed Farmaajo last month to discuss the U.S.-Somali partnership amid a ramp up in U.S. forces in the country.
*Michael Hernandez contributed from Washington, D.C.
