al-Shabaab militants on parade

Four al-Shabaab fighters have been killed and a vehicle destroyed in a U.S. airstrike about 25 kilometres west of Somalia’s Capital, Mogadishu, U.S. Africa Command said on Thursday.

According to a statement, no civilians were killed in the overnight strike that also destroyed a vehicle equipped with an explosive device, “preventing it from being used against the people in Mogadishu.’’

The U.S. has been supporting operations against the Islamist militant group as part of its global fight against terrorism.

The airstrike marks the second such attack this week.

U.S. Africa Command said in a statement that it had killed 13 militia fighters in an airstrike in southern Somalia on Sunday.

Al-Shabaab is seeking to establish an Islamist state in Somalia and is affiliated with the international al-Qaeda terrorist network. (dpa/NAN)