U.S. Navy SEAL killed in Somalia in first combat death since “Black Hawk Down” battle
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Senior Chief Special Warfare Operator Kyle Milliken, 38, of Falmouth, Maine, was the serviceman who died during an operation against the Islamist militant group al-Shabaab, the Pentagon announced Saturday.
Milliken was killed and two other American soldiers were wounded during an advise and assist operation with Somali troops, who were targeting an al-Shabaab compound, according to the Department of Defense.
Pentagon helicopters delivered Somali forces to Barii, a city about 40 miles west of the capital Mogadishu.
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The American advisers stayed back while the Somalis carried out the raid, per the rules of engagement, says The New York Times.
“We helped bring them in with our aircraft,” said Capt. Jeff Davis, a Pentagon spokesman. “We were there maintaining a distance back while they were conducting the operation.”That’s when our forces came under fire, which unfortunately resulted in the death.”
The attackers were “quickly neutralized,” Davis added.
The Somali combat death marks the first American killed in action there since the 18 killed in the 1993 Battle of Mogadishu, depicted and made famous by the 2001 film Black Hawk Down.
U.S. Africa Command announced last month that it would send dozens of additional troops into Somalia to train and equip the Somali National Army.
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