U.S. MILITARY HITS AL SHABAB EXTREMISTS IN SOMALIA

MOGADISHU: The US military says it has carried out an airstrike in support of the Somali government’s operations against the Al Shabab extremist group that has killed some of the group’s fighters.

A statement by the US Africa Command on Saturday describes the airstrike as being carried out on Thursday in “collective self-defence” and at the request of the Somali National Army near the town of Cadale in the Middle Shabelle region.

Cadale is 220km north of the capital, Mogadishu.

The United States statement says Al Shabab fighters had been attacking Somali military forces.