A joint operation between the United States and Somali National security forces has rescued 30 youngsters from an Al-Shabaab indoctrination centre.
During the rescue mission, five terrorists were killed while six others sustained injuries.
The children, majority under 18 years were found in the Lower Shabelle region of Somalia, where the Al-Qaeda linked Shabaab insurgents were radicalizing them.
According to a statement by the US Africa Command, the US personnel were in an advisory capacity and did not fire their weapons during the operation.
“We support the Federal Government of Somalia and UNICEF efforts to reunite these children with their families,” read the statement released to media on Wednesday, though the incident happened on January 18.
Early this year, Human Rights Watch cautioned that aggressive campaigns to recruit children had begun in mid-2017, with the jihadists taking reprisals against communities who refuse to cooperate.
According to HRW, hundreds of children have fled their homes to avoid this fate, often alone.