US says airstrike in Somalia kills 3 Al-Shabab extremists

The United States military says it has carried out an airstrike against Al-Shabab extremists in Somalia, killing three “terrorists.” (File Photo: AFP)

MOGADISHU: The United States military says it has carried out an airstrike against Al-Shabab extremists in Somalia, killing three “terrorists.”
The US Africa Command statement says the airstrike occurred Monday near Jilib town in Middle Juba region. “We assess no civilians were killed in this strike.”
The US has carried out a growing number of drone strikes in the Horn of Africa nation in coordination with Somalia’s government. Most are against Al-Shabab but a small number have targeted Daesh-affiliated fighters in the Puntland region in the north.
The US carried out more than 30 drone strikes last year in Somalia after President Donald Trump approved expanded military efforts against Al-Shabab.
The extremist group is blamed for the October truck bombing in the capital, Mogadishu, that killed 512 people.