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US Military Member Killed In Somalia For The First Time In Decades

Officials say the service member was killed during an operation against extremist group al-Shabab.
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A member of the U.S. military was killed in Somalia during an operation against extremist group al-Shabab.

According to a statement from U.S. Africa Command, the service member was killed late Thursday during a mission advising Somali National Army forces.

A U.S. defense official told CNN the deceased was a Navy SEAL.

A spokesperson for U.S. Africa Command told reporters this is the first American combat death in Somalia in more than two decades.

In 1993, two U.S. Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters were shot down in Mogadishu, killing 18 soldiers.

But the U.S. has recently stepped up its activities to fight al-Shabab in Somalia.

In March, President Donald Trump approved expanded operations against the group's militants, including more aggressive airstrikes.