Contradicting reports arising this evening following a US drone strike overnight in Somalia. Both the US military and pro militant media outlets are airing a conflicting chain of events regarding the latest drone strike in the country.
US AFRICOM, which oversees US military operations in Africa released a statement revealing US predator drones bombed the town of Kuunyo Barrow, situated in the volatile Lower Shabelle province of Somalia, leaving one Militant dead.
A pro militant mouthpiece dubbed Somali Memo claimed a mother of 5 children was wounded in the drone strike, when reigned down on there home overnight. According to Somali Memo, the victim has been identified as Seynab Abubakar and is currently recuperating at a makeshift medical clinic in the town of Kuunyo Barrow.
The Halgan Media service desk reached out to local contacts in the Lower Shabelle province but where unable to confirm nor deny claims made by Al Shabaab and US AFRICOM. The town of Kunyo Barrow is under Al Shabaab rule, making it impossible for outsiders to access.
Local residents in the town of Kunyo Barrow are even prohibited from having smart phones or any other forms of technology. This is the reality in every part of the country controlled by Al Shabaab.
However, local contacts where able to confirm a massive movement of joint Somali and coalition troops in the area on the night of the drone strike.
Local contacts have informed the Halgan Media service desk that on the night of the drone strike (5/3/2020), scores of US special forces and Somali Paramilitary Forces known as Danab and AMISOM troops entered the town of Bariire in the Lower Shabelle province.
The joint contingent repordly was spotted in and around the periphery of Bariire, prior to setting up shop and sheltering in the town of on that same night, which is the exact same night a US drone strike occurred targeting the nearby town of Kuunyo Barrow as revealed both by the US military and Al Shabaab.
Its still not clear weather the troop movement in Bariire and Kuunyo Barrow are connected in any way or form. This is the second US drone strike targeting the Al Shabaab controlled town of Kuunyo Barrow within the past 3 days and the 18th US drone strike in Somalia so far this year alone.
We’ll keep you updated with the latest developments from the region.
Halgan Media Service Desk