The US military conducted an air strike in Somalia on Friday against Al Qaeda-affiliated Al Shabab extremists, the second in four days after a six-month hiatus, the Pentagon said.
Africom, the US military command for Africa, “conducted an air strike against Al Shabab in the vicinity of Qeycad” in Galmudug province, 500 kilometres north of the capital Mogadishu, Pentagon spokeswoman Cindi King told AFP.
The strike was carried out by a drone and there were no US forces on the ground, Ms King said, and added that no further details could be provided.
The strike was the second carried out by the US military in Somalia in a week and only the second under US President Joe Biden.
On Tuesday, Africom attacked an Al Shabab post near Galkayo, north-west of Qeycad.
As soon as Mr Biden took office, he limited the use of drones against extremist groups outside US theatres of war.
This reversed the policy of his predecessor, Donald Trump, who had given the military carte blanche in countries such as Somalia and Libya.
Ms King noted “US forces are authorised to conduct strikes in support of combatant commander-designated partner forces under the 2001 AUMF” — the Authorisation for the Use of Military Force, whose authority US presidents have relied on to launch operations against armed Islamist groups.
Last month, the US House of Representatives voted to repeal a 2002 use-of-force measure that gave the US military the legal authority to invade Iraq and has since been used to justify military action against groups linked to Al Qaeda and the Taliban in Afghanistan.
Supporters of repealing the 2002 AUMF argue it has long outlived its purpose and that Congress should reclaim its war-making powers.
No elected officials have indicated there is any immediate plan to reverse the 2001 measure.
Defence Department spokesman John Kirby said last week that Africom commander Gen Stephen Townsend has “the authority to act in defence of our forces and our Somali partners".
The recent strikes “underscore the threat that Al Shabab poses in Somalia and in certainly the Horn of Africa,” Mr Kirby said.
“That threat remains significant and we're going to continue to be vigilant about it.”
Drone strikes had multiplied during Mr Trump's term, going from 11 in Somalia in 2015, to 64 in 2019 and 54 in 2020, said NGO Airwars, which monitors civilian deaths in bombings around the world.
Right before he left office, Mr Trump ordered the withdrawal of some 700 special forces soldiers who were in Somalia to train and advise the Somali Army.
PROFILE OF CURE.FIT
Started: July 2016
Founders: Mukesh Bansal and Ankit Nagori
Based: Bangalore, India
Sector: Health & wellness
Size: 500 employees
Investment: $250 million
Investors: Accel, Oaktree Capital (US); Chiratae Ventures, Epiq Capital, Innoven Capital, Kalaari Capital, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Piramal Group’s Anand Piramal, Pratithi Investment Trust, Ratan Tata (India); and Unilever Ventures (Unilever’s global venture capital arm)
RESULTS
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Tailors and retailers miss out on back-to-school rush
Tailors and retailers across the city said it was an ominous start to what is usually a busy season for sales.
With many parents opting to continue home learning for their children, the usual rush to buy school uniforms was muted this year.
“So far we have taken about 70 to 80 orders for items like shirts and trousers,” said Vikram Attrai, manager at Stallion Bespoke Tailors in Dubai.
“Last year in the same period we had about 200 orders and lots of demand.
“We custom fit uniform pieces and use materials such as cotton, wool and cashmere.
“Depending on size, a white shirt with logo is priced at about Dh100 to Dh150 and shorts, trousers, skirts and dresses cost between Dh150 to Dh250 a piece.”
A spokesman for Threads, a uniform shop based in Times Square Centre Dubai, said customer footfall had slowed down dramatically over the past few months.
“Now parents have the option to keep children doing online learning they don’t need uniforms so it has quietened down.”
Company%C2%A0profile
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The specs
Engine: 6.2-litre supercharged V8
Power: 712hp at 6,100rpm
Torque: 881Nm at 4,800rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 19.6 l/100km
Price: Dh380,000
On sale: now
Dirham Stretcher tips for having a baby in the UAE
Selma Abdelhamid, the group's moderator, offers her guide to guide the cost of having a young family:
• Buy second hand stuff
They grow so fast. Don't get a second hand car seat though, unless you 100 per cent know it's not expired and hasn't been in an accident.
• Get a health card and vaccinate your child for free at government health centres
Ms Ma says she discovered this after spending thousands on vaccinations at private clinics.
• Join mum and baby coffee mornings provided by clinics, babysitting companies or nurseries.
Before joining baby classes ask for a free trial session. This way you will know if it's for you or not. You'll be surprised how great some classes are and how bad others are.
• Once baby is ready for solids, cook at home
Take the food with you in reusable pouches or jars. You'll save a fortune and you'll know exactly what you're feeding your child.
War 2
Director: Ayan Mukerji
Stars: Hrithik Roshan, NTR, Kiara Advani, Ashutosh Rana
Rating: 2/5
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
