“Al Shabaab, the most powerful Islamist group in Somalia, aligned itself with Al Qaeda in 2012. But in contrast to the globally-oriented Al Qaeda, Al Shabaab has focused on military and political objectives in Somalia and neighboring countries, demonstrating a nationalist brent that the broader Al-Qaeda movement lacks. Nonetheless, the U.S. military has conducted drone strikes on Islamist militants in Somalia since at least 2011. But lately, American intervention has escalated.”

Source: 23 Years After ‘Black Hawk Down,’ America Is Back at War in Somalia | The National Interest Blog