Somali army kills 40 al-Shabaab militants in southern region

The Somali National Army (SNA) killed 40 al-Shabaab militants and wounded several others after the militant group attempted to attack the Mubarak area in the Lower Shabelle region of southern Somalia, the Ministry of Defence said on Thursday, reported Xinhua.

The ministry said the troops backed by the African Union peacekeepers repelled the assault and inflicted heavy losses on the militants.

"The SNA forces will continue a sustained operation against al-Shabaab to ensure the security of civilians and eliminate terrorist elements wherever they attempt to hide," the ministry said in a statement issued in Mogadishu, the Somali capital.

Mubarak is among the strategic areas liberated from terrorists during the holy month of Ramadan.

The ministry said efforts are currently underway to restore the area and reopen key roads previously blocked by the group.