US forces target al-Shabab in Somalia

US military forces conduct operation against armed group that is seeking to topple Somali government. Last updated: 02 Sep 2014 05:31

US military forces have carried out an operation against al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabab fighters in Somalia, Pentagon Press Secretary Rear Admiral John Kirby has said. "We are assessing the results of the operation and will provide additional information as and when appropriate," he added in a statement on Monday. There were no further details immediately available. It come a day after al-Shabab fighters carried out a car bomb and gun attack against an intelligence headquarters in central Mogadishu, leaving at least seven fighters and five others dead. Al-Shabab fighters have targeted key areas of the Somali government or the security forces in an apparent bid to discredit claims by the authorities - who are backed by the African Union's 22,000-strong AMISOM force - that they are winning the war against the armed group. Al-Shabab is fighting to topple Somalia's internationally-backed government, and regularly launch attacks against state targets, as well as in neighbouring countries that contribute to the AU force.