MOGADISHU: The US military said on Thursday it has killed seven Al-Shabab fighters in a series of airstrikes in Somalia as the administration of President Donald Trump steps up efforts against the deadliest extremist group in Africa.
A statement from the US African Command said the three airstrikes were carried out on Wednesday and Thursday in Jilib, about 320 km southwest of Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu.
The airstrikes were carried out with Somali forces, the statement said.
The US military has carried out several airstrikes against fighters with the Al-Qaeda-linked Al-Shabab in Somalia since President Trump early this year approved expanded military operations against the group, including more aggressive airstrikes and considering parts of southern Somalia areas of active hostilities.
The US and Somalia have said strikes in recent weeks have killed Al-Shabab leaders responsible for planning and executing deadly attacks in Mogadishu.
On Aug. 10, the US military announced two new airstrikes against Al-Shabab extremists and Somalia’s president said the joint operation killed a high-level leader of the group.
On Aug. 4, the US military confirmed that Al-Shabab commander Ali Mohammed Hussein had been killed in an airstrike in southern Somalia. Also known as Ali Jabal, he had been blamed for a number of deadly attacks in Mogadishu and was the highest-level Al-Shabab commander killed this year.
The Somalia-based Al-Shabab often targets Mogadishu with deadly bombings in high-profile areas such as hotels and military checkpoints.
The extremist group aims to destabilize the federal government that is trying to recover after a quarter-century of conflict.
US airstrikes kill 7 Al-Shabab fighters in Somalia
US airstrikes kill 7 Al-Shabab fighters in Somalia
Canada’s Carney arrives in China for state visit
- Carney is the first Canadian leader to visit China in eight years
- China has also been accused of interfering in Canadian elections in recent years
BEIJING: Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney arrived in Beijing on Wednesday for a state visit, Chinese state broadcaster CCTV said.
Carney, who is expected to meet President Xi Jinping for talks on Friday, is the first Canadian leader to visit China in eight years.
The two leaders met on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in South Korea in October, which Carney described as a “turning point” in the two nations’ strained relationship.
Carney’s predecessor Justin Trudeau visited China in December 2017.
But ties withered in 2018 after the arrest of a senior executive from Chinese tech giant Huawei on a US warrant in Vancouver and China’s retaliatory detention of two Canadians on espionage charges.
China has also been accused of interfering in Canadian elections in recent years.
Aside from Xi, Carney will meet with Premier Li Qiang and business leaders for trade negotiations.
Beijing said this week it “attaches high importance” to the visit.
