“US Africa Command conducted the airstrike in response to an attack by a large group of al-Shabab militants against Somali National Army Forces,” US military officials said in the statement.
The US statement did not say how many Somali forces were killed or wounded, although Somali General Ali Mohamed Mohamud said that seven Somali troops had died.
Al-Shabab claimed to have killed 41 soldiers during attacks on two Somali army bases.
The fighting also follows a deadly attack at a hotel complex in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi on Tuesday that was claimed by al-Shabab.
A suicide bomber and four gunmen stormed the luxury hotel complex, killing 21 people and wounding another 28.
The Islamic extremist group, which is linked to al-Qaida, controls large parts of southern and central Somalia, where they are fighting to overthrow the internationally-backed government in Mogadishu.
Rachael: 
Maryam: 
Fisolami: 