"The Department of Defense can confirm that in coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia, US Africa Command forces conducted one airstrike against al-Shabaab in the vicinity of Galkayo, Somalia, today," the Pentagon said.

Pentagon spokeswoman Cindi King indicated the operation took place "in the vicinity of Galkayo, Somalia," which is a city in the country's center, according to The Hill. "A battle-damage assessment is still pending due to the ongoing engagement between al-Shabaab and Somali forces," she said Tuesday.

The Somali government has long been battling the Islamist insurgent group, which has in the past been responsible for hundreds of kidnappings as well as sporadic terror attacks on civilian areas of the war-torn country. The US military said it worked in coordination with the Somali government for Tuesday's operation.