A U.S Africa Command statement on Saturday described the airstrike as carried out Thursday in "collective self-defense" and at the request of the Somali National Army near the town of Cadale in the Middle Shabelle region.

A total of 153 judges have been appointed to the various high courts in this calendar year so far, with sources hinting at more appointments to the higher judiciary in the coming days.

India`s Air Force stated it scrambled fighter jets after receiving a bomb alert on Mahan Air headed to Guangzhou in China.

United States has been carrying out airstrikes in Somalia against al-Shabab, an al-Qaida franchise, for years