MOGADISHU, April 2 (Xinhua) -- The United States military confirmed on Monday that its special forces conducted an airstrike on al-Shabab terrorists in central Somalia, killing five militants.

The U.S. Africa Command (Africom) said the airstrike on Sunday was conducted in cooperation with Somali government near El Burr.

"We assess no civilians were killed in this airstrike," Africom said in a statement released hours after the strike.

It said American forces will continue to use all authorized and appropriate measures to protect U.S. citizens and to disable terrorist threats.

"This includes partnering with AMISOM and Somali National Security Forces in combined counter-terrorism operations and targeting terrorists, their training camps, and their safe havens throughout Somalia and the region," it added.

AMISOM refers to the African Union Mission in Somalia.

The latest U.S. strike came amid heightened vigilance by Somali security forces, who have launched operations targeting several parts of the Horn of Africa nation, in response to increasing terror attacks.