Mogadishu: Fifteen Al Shabab members have been killed in an air strike in southeastern Somalia, the military has said.

According to Qatar News Agency, in a statement, the Ministry of Defense said the operation was carried out by Somali forces in coordination with international partners. The strike targeted the Al Shabab members, who were allegedly planting roadside bombs in the Middle Shabelle region.

The ministry stated that 15 fighters were killed in the attack and a vehicle used to lay explosives was destroyed, along with the weapons it was carrying.

The group, which is linked to Al-Qaeda, has been fighting the Somali government for more than a decade. Security forces have conducted repeated operations against the group in central and southern parts of the country, aiming to retake territory and weaken its operational capacity.