United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) has denied reports alluding that it took part in the recent counterterrorism operations in Puntland.
AFRICOM issued a statement indicating that it never joined the Somali National Army (SNA) in the offensives that caused the deaths of dozens of Al-Shabaab militants in Almadow mountains.
The statement by AFRICOM contradicts the one by the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS).
In the FGS statement, the government admitted carrying out the operations jointly with its international security partners.
Twenty Al-Shabaab militants, including three senior leaders, were killed in the operation.
Puntland authorities had also hit out at the federal government over the Almadow operations by saying that it was in charge of all local security matters.