The Pentagon on Saturday confirmed that US military forces were involved in a mission targeting a suspected al-Shabaab leader in Somalia, dpa reported.
"I can confirm that yesterday October 4 US military personnel were involved in a counterterrorism operation against a known al-Shabaab terrorist," Pentagon spokesman George Little said.
No us personnel were injured or killed, Defence Department spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Jeff Pool said, in the operation aimed at capturing a senior al-Shebaab commander.
News reports said the mission was carried out by US Navy SEALs. The target was reportedly a suspected al-Shabaab leader linked to the attack on a shopping mall in Kenya last month. The group claimed responsibility for the attack on Nairobi's Westgate shopping centre, which killed at least 61 civilians, six soldiers and five assailants.
The New York Times quoted a senior US security official as saying the al-Shabaab leader targeted Friday is believed to have been killed.
CNN reported the SEALs came under fire and had to withdraw before they could confirm whether the target had been killed.