Mogadishu: The Somali army announced that four-armed members of the Al-Shabaab movement, linked to al-Qaeda, were killed during a security operation in the south of the country.

According to Qatar News Agency, the Somali National News Agency (SONNA) reported that Somali National Army (SNA), in cooperation with local community forces, ambushed the militants and set ablaze the vehicle they were using after intercepting them in the area between Yasooman and Moqokori, both located in the Hiiraan region of south-central Somalia.

Earlier, the Somali army, in cooperation with international partners, conducted an airstrike in the Dar es Salaam area of the Middle Shabelle region, killing 15 Al-Shabaab militants and destroying a vehicle they were using to plant improvised explosive devices.

The Somali army has been intensifying its military operations against Al-Shabaab for over a year and has succeeded in recent months in regaining control of several areas that were under the group's control, particularly in the central part of the country.