United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) has reported that American forces carried out two “collective self-defense strikes, one each on December 14 and 17, 2022, in support of Somali National Army engagements against al-Shabaab near Cadale, Somalia.”

The December 14 strike resulted in the deaths of seven militants. The December 17 strike resulted in the deaths of eight militants. Neither strikes resulted in civilian deaths or collateral damage.

Cadale is a small coastal town that sits northeast of Mogadishu in the Middle Shabelle region. The area had been an al-Shabaab stronghold up until its liberation by Somali forces in 2014, however, militant elements have remained active.

In a statement, AFRICOM stated that “Al-Shabaab is the largest and most deadly al-Qaeda network in the world and has proven both its will and capability to attack Somali, East African, and American civilians. U.S. kinetic actions against al-Shabaab in Somalia are conducted in support of the Federal Government of Somalia’s ongoing campaign to disrupt terrorist operations in their country.”