MOGADISHU: A missile strike killed four al-Qaeda allied Shebab rebels in war-torn southern Somalia, officials and witnesses said on Friday.

“An al-Qaeda commander was targeted in Lower Shabelle early on Friday morning, a missile struck and destroyed his vehicle, killing him and several colleagues,” said a Somali government official on condition of anonymity.

The missile strike 60 kilometres (37 miles) south of the Somali capital Mogadishu was confirmed by local residents.