MOGADISHU, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- Two U.S. drone attacks killed four al-Shabab militants in southern Somalia in the latest onslaught targeting insurgents.
The U.S. Africa Command said the Monday airstrike was carried out near the community of Baqdaad, in Lower Juba region after partner forces came under attack by the militants.
"The airstrikes were conducted in collective self-defense of our Somali partners after they were engaged by al-Shabaab militants," Africom said in a statement.
Africom said the attack, which was carried out as part of joint efforts with Somali forces, did not kill or injured any civilian.
"Alongside our Somali and international partners, we are committed to preventing al-Shabaab from taking advantage of safe havens from which they can build capacity and attack the people of Somalia," said the U.S. army.
It said the al-Qaida affiliated group uses portions of southern and central Somalia to plot and direct terror attacks, steal humanitarian aid, extort the local populace to fund its operations, and shelter radical terrorists.
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.
