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Last
week, the Somali press and Xinhua, China’s state-run press agency, reported
ground operations in Somalia alleging they involved U.S. forces. On June 20,
Xinhua that a ground operation in the
Bar Sanguni area of Kismayo. Xinhua reported that Africa Command (AFRICOM)
stated “the incident took place
during a joint operation” that involved U.S. Special Forces. Somalia’s
similarly reported on the incident, saying four people were killed and also
stating that Somali troops were backed by U.S. forces.

In an email to ������Ƶ, AFRICOM stated that
U.S. forces neither “participated” nor were “involved” in the operation and
that its statement to Xinhua did not confirm U.S. participation. but merely
deferred them to the Somali National Army. (������Ƶ, which originally
included this raid in its tracking of
the U.S. counterterrorism war in Somalia based on the Xinhua report, has
removed it based on this new information).

Similarly, on June 22, 2018, reported U.S. Special Forces
backed a June 22^nd raid by Somali troops also near Kismayo. AFRICOM
told ������Ƶ that U.S. forces neither “participated” nor were “involved” in
this operation either.