Somali army kills 12 al-Shabaab militants in southwestern region

The Somali National Army, backed by international partners, killed 12 al-Shabaab militants and wounded several others in an operation at the Daynuney area of southwestern Somalia, the Ministry of Defense confirmed on Monday, reported Xinhua.

The ministry said the operation was carried out early Monday and forms part of ongoing efforts to degrade al-Shabaab's operational capabilities and enhance overall security in the country.

"The Somali Armed Forces and international partners remain committed to continuing such operations to eliminate the threat of terrorism and ensure lasting peace and stability across Somalia," the ministry said in a statement issued in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia.

The al-Shabaab extremist group was driven out of Mogadishu in 2011, but the militants are still hiding in rural areas, where they continue to carry out ambushes and plant landmines.

The allied forces have stepped up operations, which have since seen the recapture of several al-Shabaab positions and the destruction of their hideouts, including storage facilities, as troops pursue remaining fighters.