US Airstrike Leaves 52 Al-Shabaab Fighters Dead

52 Al-Shabaab fighters have been killed in Somalia following an airstrike launched by the United States military forces.

The airstrike comes after the militia group attacked a Somali army base, forcing the US to intervene.

"US Africa Command conducted the airstrike in response to an attack by a large group of Al-Shabaab militants against Somali National Army Forces. We currently assess this airstrike killed fifty-two militants," US Africa Command says in a statement.

Somali military officials say six soldiers lost their lives during the heavy exchange of gunfire which lasted for hours.

"The terrorists attacked Bulogagdud military base using heavy weaponry and explosives. The Somali military and Jubaland forces resisted the enemy before later retreating back from the base," Mohamed Abdikarin, a Somali military official says.

"Six soldiers were killed during the attack and two others died after a booby-trapped vehicle was detonated when the forces retook control of the base."

The US military says it will sustain its attacks on the militants, who are responsible for thousands of deaths in Somalia and the region, including Kenya.

“Alongside our Somali and international partners, we are committed to preventing al-Shabaab from taking advantage of safe havens from which they can build capacity and attack the people of Somalia,” the U Africa command adds.

The Islamic terror group has claimed responsibility for last Tuesday attack at 14 Riverside Drive in Nairobi's Westlands area where 21 people, including one US national, were killed.

The group cited US President Donald Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel as the reason for the attack.