A US air strike has killed the intelligence chief of the al-Shabab terror group, according to Somalia's intelligence service.

A statement from the Somali agency identified the leader only as Abdishakur, also known as Tahlil. It said the operation also killed two other al-Shabab militants.

The Pentagon said the air strike took place yesterday in Saakow, Somalia. It provided no details, beyond saying it did not believe the attack caused any civilian or bystander casualties.

Al-Shabab is an ultra-conservative Islamic militant group linked to the al Qaida terrorist network which wants to run Somalia by its strict interpretation of shariah law.

Despite militants suffering huge losses in recent years, including the killing of their leader in a US air strike earlier this year, al-Shabab remains a threat.