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Pentagon: US Forces Destroy 2 Terrorist Camps in Southern Somalia

VOA News

   U.S. forces destroyed two al-Shabab compounds and killed at least one
   terrorist in a military operation in southern Somalia last month, the
   Pentagon announced Monday.

   U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) carried out the attacks in coordination
   with Somali forces. The two compounds -- one in Jamaame and the other
   in Jilib -- were destroyed.

   AFRICOM said it took "significant measures" to ensure no civilians were
   killed or wounded.

   "We assess these compounds were used by al-Shabab militants to organize
   and plan violent terrorist actions against innocent Somali civilians,"
   said Brig. Gen. Gregory Hadfield, AFRICOM deputy director of
   intelligence. "Operations to disrupt al-Shabab are needed to deny their
   ability to expand terrorism outside of Somalia, as we've recently seen
   in Kenya."

   Al-Shabab terrorists attacked a military base in Kenya last month,
   killing a U.S. soldier and two civilian contractors.

   Al-Shabab has been fighting for more than 10 years to set up a strict
   Islamic state in Somalia.It frequently carries out attacks in
   neighboring Kenya to retaliate for Kenyan forces entering Somalia in
   response to cross-border attacks.

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