MOGADISHU — The U.S. military says it has conducted its deadliest airstrike against Al Qaeda linked Al Shabaab group in central Somalia.
The airstrike was carried out on Friday near Harardhere town, leaving 60 militants dead, according to the U.S. Africa Command.
The statement says according to its assessment no civilians were injured or killed.
The strike becomes such U.S. deadliest strike since one on Nov. 21, 2017, killed about 100 Al-Shabab fighters.
The U.S. military has carried out more than 20 airstrikes, including drone strikes, this year against the al-Qaida-linked al-Shabab, the deadliest Islamic group in sub-Saharan Africa.
U.S. military says it killed four al Qaeda linked al-Shabab militants on Oct 14 in drone airstrike in southern Somalia.
The Al-Qaeda linked Shabaab was pushed out of the Somali capital in 2011 — and subsequently other towns and cities — by soldiers from the African Union Mission in Somalia.
The group is fighting to overthrow the internationally backed government of Somalia, but has also carried out attacks in neighboring Kenya.
