U.S. conducts strike against al-Shabaab in Somalia

The United States on Sunday conducted strike against al-Shabaab, al-Qaeda's affiliate, in Somalia.

Pentagon chief spokesperson Dana W. White said in a statement, "On June 11, at approximately 2 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time, the Department of Defence conducted a strike operation against al-Shabaab in Somalia. The operation occurred approximately 185 miles southwest of Mogadishu."

The statement added that the U.S. conducted this operation in coordination with its regional partners as a direct response to al-Shabaab actions, including recent attacks on Somali forces.

It said the strike was conducted with the authorities approved by President Donald Trump earlier in March, which allows the U.S. Department of Defence to conduct legal action against al-Shabaab within a geographically-defined area of active hostilities in support of partner force in Somalia.

"?We remain committed to working with our Somali partners and allies to systematically dismantle al-Shabaab, and help achieve stability and security throughout the region," the statement concluded.

In March, Donald Trump permitted airstrikes against the terror group thus ending Obama-era restrictions on drone strikes in Somalia.