Mogadishu: The Somali army announced Friday that it had killed four-armed members of the Al Shabaab movement, which is linked to al-Qaeda, during an operation carried out by its forces in the Lower Shabelle region of southern Somalia.

According to Qatar News Agency, the army stated that its forces conducted the operation in cooperation with international partners, targeting armed elements holed up in the Mubarak area of the Lower Shabelle region.

The statement confirmed that the militants were killed while planting landmines during the operation.

The army reiterated its commitment to eliminating the movement's elements and continuing counter-terrorism operations until security and stability are achieved throughout the country.

In recent days, the Somali army has announced the elimination of several Al Shabaab militants and the recapture of areas previously under Al Shabaab control in southern Somalia.