MOGADISHU, Sept. 17 (Xinhua) -- Forty-three al-Shabab militants were killed by Somali National Army (SNA) forces during an overnight operation conducted in the Aborey area in Bula-barte district of central Somalia.
The SNA radio reported on Saturday that the military operation was carried out in Aborey village after receiving intelligence information about the presence of the militants.
The Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism said in a statement that the government troops engaged the militants who were plotting attacks in the area.
"The armed forces successfully carried out an intensive attack after receiving details regarding the terrorists' plot. However, five SNA soldiers were injured during the attack," said the statement issued in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia.
Aborey is an area which the government troops recently liberated from al-Shabab and is a key location used by the Al-Shabab militants to cross from the eastern areas to other parts of the country.
The ministry said more than 150 al-Shabab militants have been killed in recent onslaughts mounted by government forces in collaboration with the local community.
The extremist group was driven out of Mogadishu in 2011, but it is still capable of conducting attacks, targeting government installations, hotels, restaurants and public places.
