The US military has reportedly launched an airstrike against extremist group al-Shabaab in Somalia, on 2 July.

The strike follows recent approval from US President Donald Trump to provide additional precision fires in support of African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).

The US Department of Defense (DoD) was authorised in March this year to support Somali security forces in their fight against the al-Shabab militant group.

US Army major Audricia Harris was quoted by media sources as saying: "We are currently assessing the results of the operation, and will provide additional information as appropriate.”

Last month, the DoD conducted an airstrike approximately 185 miles south-west of Mogadishu, which killed at least eight al-Shabaab militants.

"US forces remain committed to supporting the Federal Government of Somalia, the Somali National Army and our AMISOM partners in defeating al-Shabaab and establishing a safe and secure environment in Somalia."

Harris was further quoted by The New York Times as saying: “US forces remain committed to supporting the Federal Government of Somalia, the Somali National Army and our AMISOM partners in defeating al-Shabaab and establishing a safe and secure environment in Somalia.”

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The AMISOM is a regional peacekeeping mission operated by the African Union in Somalia with the approval of the United Nations (UN).

The mission was first established in 2007 with an initial six-month mandate, the DoD stated.

Military personnel assigned to the US Africa Command support the mission through information exchanges, partnership-building exercises and precision strikes.