One U.S. special operations soldier is dead and four wounded after al-Qaida linked militants attacked an outpost still under construction Friday in southwestern Somalia.
Friday's attack, about 50 kilometers north of the port city of Kismayo, came as U.S. forces were helping Somali and Kenyan troops construct the outpost, part of a multi-day mission to help clear the area of militants with the al Shabab terror group, according to U.S. military officials.
Witnesses said the attack took place while the U.S. Somali and Kenyan troops were digging trenches and setting up other defenses. They said the militants first set off a series of explosions before targeting the forces with heavy gunfire and mortar rounds
Despite the attack, U.S. officials say the Somali and Kenyan forces were able to complete the outpost, and that the Somali government will be able to use it to push al Shabab from the region.
The death of the U.S. soldier in Somalia is the second in the last two years.
索马里西南地区一座还在建造中的哨所星期五受到与基地组织有联系的激进分子袭击,一名美国特种兵丧生,4人受伤。
袭击事件发生在索马里港口城市基斯马尤以北大约50公里的地方。美国军队在那里帮助索马里政府军和肯尼亚军队建造哨所。美国军方官员说,这是在该地区清剿青年党激进分子的一个数日行动的一部分。
目击者说,美国、索马里和肯尼亚军队在挖沟和设置其它障碍时发生了袭击。他们说,激进分子先引爆了一系列炸弹,然后用重武器和迫击炮向三国军人开火。
美国官员说,尽管发生了袭击,但是索马里和肯尼亚军队完成了哨所的修建,索马里政府将能利用这个哨所把青年党驱赶出这个地区。
这是两年来在索马里丧生的第二名美国军人。
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