MOGADISHU, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- Somali and the United States forces on Sunday killed more than 13 al-Shabab militants including targeted leaders in an airstrike conducted in the Hiran region, central Somalia.
The Somali National Army (SNA) radio reported that among those killed in the ongoing counter-terrorism operations include senior al-Shabab commanders.
"Over 13 al-Shabab terrorists were killed including their commanders and their hideouts were destroyed in the U.S. airstrike to support the SNA's counter-terrorism operations in the Hiran region," the SNA Radio reported of the strike which took place at around 2 p.m.
The Sunday strike came hours after the SNA said its elite forces (Danab) successfully foiled seven landmine explosions planted by al-Shabab terrorists on the outskirts of Kismayo, southern Somalia.
The Somali forces and international partners have intensified security operations in the recent past against al-Shabab extremists in the southern and central regions in an attempt to liberate al-Shabab-held towns. ■