US airstrike kills 26 Al-Shabaab militants in Somalia

 Mogadishu, March 2: The US military on Friday said it conducted an airstrike in central Somalia on Thursday, killing 26 Al-Shabaab terrorists.

The US Africa Command (AFRICOM) said no civilians were injured or killed in the airstrike, which occurred around Hiran region, Xinhua news agency reported.

"This airstrike is one element of a larger strategy to support the Somali National Army as it increases pressure on the terrorist network and its recruiting efforts in the region," AFRICOM said in a statement.

The latest strike came a few hours after the Al-Shabaab carried out a deadly attack on Hotel Makkah Al-Mukaramah in Mogadishu, killing at least 36 people and injuring more than 60 others.

The US military has stepped up air raids against Al-Shabaab, which is trying to overthrow the internationally-backed Somali government.

Al-Shabaab controls large parts of southern and central Somalia and continues to carry out high-profile attacks in Mogadishu and elsewhere.