Somalia: US air strike kills 'several militants'

The strike was carried out "in coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia," the US Africa Command said in a statement.

Washington, Nov 10: Several militants were killed in an air strike by the US millitary against Al- Shabaab jihadists in Somalia.

The attack took place early today in the Bay region in the center of the country, about 100 miles west of Mogadishu.

The strike was carried out "in coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia," the US Africa Command said in a statement.

"Al-Shabaab has pledged allegiance to al-Qaeda and is dedicated to providing safe haven for terrorist attacks throughout the world," it said.

Al-Shabaab was blamed for the October 14 truck bombing in Mogadishu that killed 358 people, and an attack on a hotel on October 29 that left 27 dead. On Saturday the US mission to Somalia urged all non- essential staff to leave Mogadishu immediately following a specific threat against them.

That was one day after the US Africa Command launched drone strikes that targeted an Islamic State base in the country's northeast.

Even on November 4, the US had conducted a pair of drone strikes against IS jihadists in Somalia.

The strikes occurred in northeastern Somalia and killed "several terrorists," the US military's Africa Command said in a statement.

PTI