SYDNEY/ WASHINGTON – The pentagon
says a US air strike in Somalia has killed more than 150 fighters from the
Islamist group al-Shabaab.

The attack
followed US intelligence on preparations for a large-scale militant attack.

The weekend
strike, using both manned aircraft and unmanned drones, targeted al-Shabaab’s
“Raso” training camp, a facility about 190km north of the capital
Mogadishu, the Pentagon said.

The US
military had been monitoring the camp for several weeks before the strike and
had gathered intelligence, including about an imminent threat posed by those in
the camp.

US Air Force
Secretary Deborah Lee James described the strike as “defensive” in
nature.

“There
was intelligence … these fighters would soon be embarking upon missions that
would directly impact the U.S. and our partners,” James told reporters.

Two US
officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the targets were US forces
and African Union fighters in Somalia, but declined to offer additional
details.

The al-Qaeda-linked
al-Shabaab was pushed out of Mogadishu by African Union peacekeeping forces in
2011 but has remained a potent antagonist in Somalia, launching frequent
attacks in its bid to overthrow the Western-backed government.

The group,
whose name means “The Youth,” seeks to impose its strict version of
sharia law in Somalia, where it frequently unleashes attacks targeting security
and government targets, as well as hotels and restaurants in the capital.

Al-Shabaab
was also behind deadly attacks in Kenya and Uganda, which both contribute
troops to an African Union peacekeeping force in Somalia.

– Reuters