MOGADISHU, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- The United States army said Monday it conducted an airstrike in central Somalia on Sunday, killing 35 al-Shabab terrorists.
According to a statement issued by the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), the strike targeted al-Shabab militants as they were transitioning between locations in an area, about 37 km east of Beledweyne in Hiran Region, and interrupted an al-Shabab attempt to mass their forces.
"This precision airstrike is part of a larger effort to support the Somali National Army as it increases pressure on the terrorist network and its recruiting efforts in the region," AFRICOM said in the statement.
AFRICOM said the attack did not kill or injure any civilians.
Somali and African Union peacekeeping forces have also intensified military operations against the al-Shabab, flushing them in their Lower Shabelle and Middle Shabelle regions as part of the efforts to stabilize the Horn of Africa nation.
