Somalia defence minister admits renewed U.S airstrike, contradicts Turkish drone war in Somalia

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Somalia defence minister admits renewed U.S airstrike, contradicts Turkish drone war in Somalia

MOGADISHU (HORN OBSERVER) The defence minister of the Somali Federal Government has on Wednesday corroborated emerging reports of the renewed U.S airstrikes in Somalia while making contradiction on the involvement of Turkish drone strikes in the Horn

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Minister of defence, Abdukadir Mohamed Nur (Jama) said the U.S is continuing its support to Somali forces including the airstrikes in various regions.

MOGADISHU (HORN OBSERVER) The defence minister of the Somali Federal Government has on Wednesday corroborated emerging reports of the renewed U.S airstrikes in Somalia while making contradiction on the involvement of Turkish drone strikes in the Horn of African country.

Minister of defence, Abdukadir Mohamed Nur (Jama) said the U.S is continuing its support to Somali forces including the airstrikes in various regions.

"The U.S supports us. They also carry out airstrikes. They [U.S Africom] also release public statement acknowledging their operations," he told Universal Somali TV.

When pressed, the minister said he could not confirm any civilian casualties arising from the recent U.S airstrikes in Somalia.

On the other hand, minister Jama said he was not aware of the Turkish drone strikes.

"I am not aware of that," he told the journalist.

The presence of Turkish drones was confirmed in September by the Minister of Interior, Federal and Reconciliation, Ahmed Moallim Fiqi who said that "Turkey was providing drones support to advance Somalia's war on al-Shabaab as he refrained to admit civilian casualties.

Local media reports also confirmed that the much-coveted Turkish Bayraktar TB2 drone has joined Somalia's offensive against the militant group al-Shabab.

Turkey has trained thousands of Somali troops, mainly special forces, but has not been actively involved in the fight against al-Shabab, until recently.