U.S. military officials say three airstrikes conducted Sunday against al-Shabab militants in Somalia have killed four militants.
The officials say the airstrikes in coordination with the Somali government targeted al-Shabab militants responsible for terrorist acts against innocent Somali citizens.
The airstrikes came a day after a truck bombing in Somalia’s capital killed at least 78 people. While no group has yet claimed responsibility for the bombing, Somalia’s president has blamed the al-Qaida-linked al-Shabab.
U.S. Africa Command says an initial assessment concluded that two airstrikes killed two militants and destroyed two vehicles in Qunyo Barrow, and that one airstrike killed two militants in Caliyoow Barrow.
In a statement Sunday, the director of operations for U.S. Africa Command, Army Maj. Gen. William Gayler, says al-Shabaab is “a global menace and their sights are set on exporting violence regionally and eventually attacking the U.S. homeland.”