Mogadishu, Dec 10 (IANS): The US military has said its special forces conducted an airstrike in Somalia on Saturday, killing four al-Shabab militants.

The US Africa Command (Africom) said the collective self-defence airstrike which was carried in cooperation with the Somali government targeted al-Shabab militants in the vicinity of Basra in southern Somalia.

"The US airstrike was conducted against militants after partner forces came under attack. We currently assess this airstrike killed four militants with no civilians involved," Africom said in a statement, Xinhua reported on Sunday.

"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," said Africom.

"The desired end state in East Africa is one in which terrorist organisations cannot destabilise Somalia and its neighbouring states, nor threaten the interests of the US and its international allies in the region," according to Africom.