An American soldier was killed in Somalia during a joint operation with Somali forces against Shabaab militants, the US Africa Command said in a statement Friday.

"On May 4, one US service member was killed during an operation against al-Shabaab near Barii, Somalia, approximately 40 miles west of Mogadishu," the statement said, adding the US forces were "conducting an advise and assist mission alongside members of the Somali National Army."