MOGADISHU, Somalia – Somali army conducted a counter-terrorism operation in the vicinity of El-Lahelay, central Somalia on September 6, 2023.
The US Africa command (AFRICOM) said its initial assessment is that three al Shabaab leaders were killed as a result of the operation and, unfortunately, civilians were injured and killed in the vicinity of the operation.
U.S. forces were not onsite for the operation and did not conduct air strikes during or in support of the operation.
In response to a request from the Government of Somalia, U.S. Africa Command medically evacuated injured civilians.
The claim being spread by al Shabaab that U.S. forces caused the unfortunate harm to civilians is false.
Source: Africom statement
