U.S. conducts airstrikes against IS in Somalia

WASHINGTON, Nov. 3 (Xinhua) -- The Pentagon said on Friday that U.S. forces had conducted two separate airstrikes against Islamic State (IS) in northeastern Somalia, killing several terrorists.

The first strike occurred at approximately midnight local Somalia time with the second separate strike occurring at approximately 11 a.m. local Somalia time, according to a statement by the U.S. Africa Command.

Currently, the U.S. maintains a small force unit of about 50 troops in Somalia, mainly to advise and assist Somalia and African Union mission in Somalia battling militants of Al-Shabaab, an Al Qaida-affiliated terrorist group in Somalia.