Justine Fleischner

#UPDATE: U.S. Airstrike Hits Al-Shabaab Arms Depot in Cal-Madow, Targets Houthi and Al-Shabaab Drone Experts Puntland authorities and the United States have confirmed a counterterrorism operation targeting an Al-Shabaab weapons-storage site in the Cal-Madow area of the Golis Mountains in northern Somalia. In a statement issued on Thursday , Puntland’s presidential office said the strike hit a location known as Markad, described as an arms and ammunition depot used by Al-Shabaab to support its operations and threaten security in Puntland and elsewhere in Somalia. The operation was carried out in coordination with Puntland government agencies, the statement said. However, reports circulating after the operation said the strike targeted Badri al-Hussain, described as a Houthi drone expert, and Abdi Khalif al-Badawi, who was also described as a specialist in drone technology. The reports further alleged that foreign individuals had been working at the site on missile and drone testing. The reports emerge amid growing concerns over alleged cooperation between Al-Shabaab and Yemen’s Houthi movement. Somali and regional security officials have increasingly warned that links between the groups may be expanding, including through potential exchanges of technical expertise, weapons knowledge and maritime networks. “The targeting of locations and facilities used by the group to support its operations is intended to increase pressure and degrade its ability to plan and carry out attacks,” the statement said. The United States has previously carried out airstrikes against Al-Shabaab targets in Somalia, often in cooperation with Somali security forces. Puntland said the latest operation demonstrated the joint commitment to deny the group safe havens and disrupt its ability to organize attacks. According to reports, Al-Shabaab and Houthi-linked individuals were preparing final drone and missile tests at the site when they were targeted in today’s airstrike. The reports have not been independently verified.