The United States forces conducted counter-terrorism strike against al-Shabab militant group in Somalia, Pentagon officials said on Monday giving no further details on the operation.

The Pentagon press secretary Rear Adm. John Kirby disclosed the action in a brief statement saying the U.S. military is still evaluating the results of the action and will provide more information when appropriate.

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The suspected U.S. drones fired at least four missiles near Barawe city, the al-Shabab’s stronghold, destroying two vehicles in southern Somalia, Voice of America reported. However, there is no immediate confirmation of any casualties in the region.

The Pentagon statement did not clarigy if the operation was limited to drone strikes or if U.S. special operations forces are present in the area.

According to an unnamed U.S. official, the primary target of the operation was Ahmed Abdi Godane, a senior leader of the al-Qaeda-affiliated terrorist group al-Shabab.

The U.S. strikes comes after seven suspected Islamic fighters attacked the Godka Jilacow prison in Mogadishu in an attempt to free other detained militants, reports confirmed.

All the assailants along with three government soldiers and two civilians were killed on the attack last Sunday, Somali Information Minister Mustafa Duhulow said.

However, the Pentagon did not indicate whether the U.S. military action was related to the prison attack.

Apart from the prison attack, Al-Shabaab terrorist group claimed responsibility for the Nairobi attack in a Kenya shopping mall in 2013 that left 68 people dead and 175 wounded. Some reports said they also staged lethal attacks across Somalia, including the Mogadishu area.

U.S. authorities marked Al-Shabaab as a foreign terrorist group in 2008. Last August, the Somali government launched a new military offensive called Operation Indian Ocean to push al Shabaab militants from more territorial control, Somalia's President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud told the media.

TagsU.S., counterterrorism, Somalia, Abdulkadir