The U.S. killed nine members of the terrorist group al Shabab in Somalia Wednesday, after the militants attacked Somali forces that were accompanied by U.S. advisers.
The Pentagon says the airstrike was conducted in central Somalia in self defense, to protect both the Somali troops and the Americans.
It was the second Somalia airstrike this week conducted by the U.S. On Monday, a drone strike killed four a Shabab fighters in the south.
The U.S. has a small force of about 50 U.S. troops assisting Somali and African Union Mission to Somalia forces to combat al Shabab, which has pledged allegiance to al Qaeda.
The Pentagon says U.S. troops were not involved in the firefight that preceded the strike.
U dhaaf Halcelis