US conducts 6 airstrikes against Somalia extremists, 62 dead

The United States military's Africa Command says that it has carried out six airstrikes in the Gandarshe area of Somalia which killed a total of 62 extremists from the al-Shabab rebel group.

In a statement issued Monday, the US military said it carried out four strikes on December 15 in which 34 people were killed and two more on December 16 which killed 28. It said all strikes were in the Gandarshe coast area south of the capital. It said that no civilians were injured or killed.

The US military statement said all six strikes were carried out in close coordination with Somalia's government. It said the airstrikes were conducted to prevent al-Shabab from using remote areas as a safe haven to the plot, direct, inspire, and recruit for future attacks.

(With inputs from agencies.)