Soldiers of the Somali National Army have killed forty-three al-Shabaab militants during an overnight operation conducted in the Aborey area in Bula-barte district of central Somalia, a government statement said on Sunday.
According to the statement from the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism government troops engaged the militants who were allegedly plotting attacks in the area.
Five SNA soldiers were wounded during the skirmish with the insurgents.
The SNA radio reported over the weekend that the military operation was carried out in Aborey village after receiving intelligence about the presence of the militants.
Aborey is an area which the government troops recently liberated from al-Shabaab and is a key location used by the insurgents to access the east of the country.
The ministry said more than 150 al-Shabaab militants have been killed in recent onslaughts mounted by government forces in collaboration with the local community.
The militants were driven out of Mogadishu in 2011, but still retains the capacity to launch attacks including suicide bombings, targeting government installations, hotels, restaurants and public places.
MG/as/APA