MOGADISHU, Nov. 22 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. military said Thursday it conducted two airstrikes in central Somalia on Wednesday, killing six al-Shabab terrorists and also destroyed a weapons cache.
The U.S. Africa Command (Africom) said the drone strikes which were carried out in coordination with Somalia government was conducted in the vicinity of Haradhere in central Somalia.
"We currently assess the first airstrike killed six al-Shabab militants and the second airstrike destroyed a weapons cache," Africom said in a statement.
The U.S. military said these airstrikes did not injure or kill any civilians but targeted the militant group which has been fighting to establish an Islamic state in Somalia for almost a decade.
"These precision airstrikes were conducted in coordination with and in support of the Federal Government of Somalia as it continues to degrade al-Shabab," Africom said.
It added that the airstrikes reduce al-Shabab's ability to plot future attacks, disrupt its leadership networks, and degrade its freedom of maneuver within the region.
The al-Qaida allied terrorist group continues to hold parts of the country's south and central regions after being chased out of Mogadishu several years ago.
Somali and African Union peacekeeping forces have also intensified military operations against the insurgents, flushing them in their Lower and Middle Shabelle region bases as part of efforts to stabilize the Horn of Africa nation.
