The US spokesman says officials don’t believe there were civilian casualties.

It’s not known if the airstrike hit its target.

Three months ago a US airstrike in Somalia killed al-Shabab leader Ahmed Abdi Godane.

Washington’s help’s been sought to curb the al-Qaida affiliated al-Shabab which is trying to overthrow the Somali government and turn the country into a conservative Islamic state.

Somali and African Union troops have had success in turning back the militants over the past year – forcing them out of the capital Mogadishu and other towns.

The US has not identified the leader targeted in the latest strike

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His capitulation reflects a leadership battle within the terrorist organisation.

The US State Department had put a $3 million price on the head of Al Shabab commander Zakariya Ahmed Ismail Hersi.

His surrender follows the killing of three African Union peacekeepers and a civilian contractor in a Christmas Eve attack on the AU military headquarters in Mogadishu.

It comes three months after Al Shabab leader Ahmed Abdi Godane was killed in a US air strike.

Hersi’s believed to have fallen out with Godane. He was on the run but retained a powerful following among militants.

Acting on a tip-off, Somali police stormed a house where Hersi was sheltering.

He surrendered without a fight.

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