MOGADISHU, June 1 (Xinhua) -- A joint airstrike carried out by the Somali and U.S. forces killed three Islamic State (IS)-Somalia fighters in the latest airstrike in northeastern Somalia on Friday evening.
The U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), which oversees American troops on the African continent, said the airstrike occurred in a remote area in the vicinity of Dhaardaar, about 81 km southeast of Bosaso.
"An initial assessment of the strike is that three IS militants were killed, with no civilian casualties," Africom said in a statement issued on Saturday.
Africom noted that alongside its partners, it continues to take action to prevent this terrorist group from planning and conducting attacks that disproportionately harm civilians.
It said Somalia remains central to the security environment in East Africa, adding that AFRICOM's forces will continue training, advising and equipping partner forces to degrade the IS.
The so-called IS wing in Somalia has its main base in the Puntland region, northeastern Somalia, and has occasionally clashed with Puntland forces and al-Shabab militants. ■
