By Mohammed Dhaysane

MOGADISHU, Somalia

At least 24 al-Shabaab militants were killed in a U.S. airstrike in central Somalia on Wednesday, according to the U.S. military.

The airstrike hit near Shebeeley in the central region of Hiran, said a statement by U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM).

“At this time, it was assessed no civilians were injured or killed in this airstrike,” Africom said on Twitter.

It added that the airstrikes in the Horn of African country are part of a larger effort to support the Somali National Army as it increases pressure on the terrorist network and its recruiting efforts in the region.

Government officials in Baledwayne, the capital of the Hiran region, also confirmed the incident to Anadolu Agency over the phone.

This airstrike comes 10 days after U.S. airstrikes killed at least 52 al-Shabaab fighters near the town of Jilib in the middle Jubba region.