He’s named as Yusuf Jiis, who’s described by US military official as a brutal and ruthless killer.

US Africa Command leader General Stephen Townsend says they were considering a pause in operations during the fight against the COVID 19 pandemic.

But since Al Shabaab and Al Qaida saw the international medical emergency as an opportunity, he felt the need to strike.

He says Yusuf Jiis was responsible for attacks both inside and outside Somalia.

US drone strikes against Islamist terror groups have increased since Donald Trump moved into the White House.

There’s been no confirmation of Yiis; death from Al Shabaab who appears to have someone waiting in the wings for any of its leaders who fall prey to US military drones.

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The cuts represent the Pentagon’s shift from counter terror to great power competition with China and Russia.

The US Africa Command says the cuts to the 7 200 American troops on the continent will amount to less that ten percent.

Operations in Somalia, Libya and Djibouti – where the US has its only permanent military base in Africa – will remain the same.

But in West Africa, the tactical assistance to forces fighting violent extremist organizations  will be replaced with personnel providing advisory, assistance, liaison and intelligence sharing.

A deadly ambush that saw US soldiers killed in Niger last year has got the American public asking why they were in the first place.  

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The so called G5 have a three-fold increase in attacks from Al Qaeda and Islamic state this past year, resulting in 895 deaths.

ends intro

The Stuttgart-based US Africa Command promised $60-million dollars to the West African force comprising Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali,  Mauritania and Nigeria.

US military spokesperson Samantha Reho says that amount now been upped to $111-million.

It will be used to meet the needs and strengthen the capabilities of the force set up a year ago.

The administration of President Donald Trump has been accused to presenting the political frozen mitt to Africa.

Militarily, though, it is increased financial and logistical support for fighting terror on the continent.

The post Washington nearly doubles aid to G5 anti-terror force in Sahel appeared first on Jean-Jacques Cornish.

It follows admission that US military drones have for the first time strike Islamic States targets in the troubled Horn of Africa state.

The US says it has intercepted specific threats to the safety of Americans is Somalia.

So US official staff has been ordered to quit. Other  Americans who remain are urged to show the greatest vigilance.

Military drones have, according to the US Africa command,  made several strikes last weekend on Islamist extremists aligned to Islamic State and the Al Qaeda-linked Al Shabaab.

Somali officials say among the US drones priority targets are  Islamist leader Abdulkadir Mumin who has so far managed to survive the attacks.

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