U.S. service member killed in Somalia during an operation against al-Shabab

[IronLionZion]

4. This article answers some of your questions:

http://www.cnn.com/2017/05/05/politics/us-military-member-killed-somalia/

The US troops were part of an ongoing US military program to advise and assist Somali ground forces. The mission was not part of the stepped-up effort in Somalia to conduct airstrikes and ground missions against terror targets.

"This was an operation targeting an al Shabaab group that had been associated with attacks on US, Somali and AMISOM forces," US Navy Capt. Jeff Davis, a Pentagon spokesman, told reporters Friday, referring to the African Union mission there.

"US forces are assisting partner forces to counter al Shabaab in Somalia to degrade the al Qaeda affiliate's ability to recruit, train and plot external terror attacks throughout the region and in America," according to a news release from US Africa Command.

US Africa Command announced last month that it was sending sending "dozens" of additional troops to Somalia to train and equip the Somali National Army and the forces participating in the African Union Mission there.