Story highlights US Africa Command: Eight Al-Shabaab militants killedStrike was first under expanded authority approved by President Trump in MarchAtlanta (CNN) The Pentagon said it conducted an air strike against the Al-Shabaab group in Somalia early Sunday morning. The new authority approved Trump, gave more power to the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) to carry out "precision airstrikes" in support of African Union and Somali troops fighting Al-Shabaab in Somalia. It is legally based in the 2001 authorization for use of military force against al Qaeda. The Sunday strike, which a US Defense official confirmed was from an unmanned aircraft, was the first publicly announced use of the new authority. In April, the United States announced that it was s ending about 40 additional troops to Somalia to help train and equip both the Somali national army and the forces participating in the African Union Mission in Somalia.

Source: CNN June 11, 2017 20:48 UTC