Somali military kills at least 12 al-Shabaab terrorists

MOGADISHU, Somalia

Somali national army on Monday said it had conducted an operation against the al-Qaeda-affiliated terror group al-Shabaab in the central Hiran region, killing at least 12 al-Shabaab terrorists.

The operation conducted by elite soldiers took place near the town of Matabaan in the central region of Hiran late Sunday.

"12 Al-Shabab terrorists were killed in operation conducted by Somali National Army near Qabdho village under Mataban district of Hiran region in the past 24 hours," the Somali National News Agency reported.

Brig. Gen. Odowa Yusuf Rageh, the Somali national army commander who spoke to the army radio, confirmed the operation, saying the main aim was to destroy terrorists' hideouts and prevent their plots.

He said that during the operation, the army destroyed the al-Shabaab base in Qabdho on the outskirts of Mataban, where al-Shabaab terrorists used to extort money from the local people.

Mataban, is a town located 405 kilometers (251 miles) from the capital Mogadishu.