MOGADISHU, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- The United States army said it conducted an airstrike against al-Shabaab terrorists in southern Somalia on Saturday, killing 52 militants.

The U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) said in a statement on Saturday that no civilians were killed or injured in the latest strike which was carried out near Jilib, Middle Juba Region.

"U.S. Africa Command conducted the airstrike in response to an attack by a large group of al-Shabaab militants against Somali National Army," according to the statement.

AFRICOM said it is committed to preventing al-Shabaab from taking advantage of safe havens from which they can build capacity and attack Somali people.

The strike came after media reports that Somali National Army backed by the U.S. army on Saturday killed 73 al-Shabaab militants in Bar-Sanguni neighborhood near Kismayo town in Jubbland, following an attack from al-Shabaab at a military base on Saturday morning.

The al-Qaida allied terrorist group continues to hold parts of the country's south and central regions after being chased out of Mogadishu years ago.

Somali and African Union peacekeeping forces have intensified military operations against the insurgents, flushing them in their Lower Shabelle and Middle Shabelle region bases as part of efforts to stabilize the Horn of Africa nation.