Somali forces, backed by a US airstrike, have killed dozens of al-Shabaab militants in central Somalia.
The airstrike, carried out on Wednesday, targeted a site used by the militants as a gathering and hideout in the Adan Yabaal district, killing 12 fighters, including several senior commanders.
In a separate incident, the Somali national army killed at least 35 al-Shabaab fighters near the city of Baidoa as they attempted to attack a military base.
The Ministry of Information confirmed that the targeted strike resulted in no civilian casualties.
However, the outcome of the battle in Adan Yabaal remains unclear, with conflicting accounts from government forces and al-Shabaab.
The militant group claims to have overrun 10 military installations during Wednesday’s fighting.
Al-Shabaab has been waging an insurgency in Somalia since 2007, seeking to seize power and impose its strict interpretation of Islamic law.
The group briefly captured villages near Mogadishu last month, sparking fears of an attack on the capital.
Somali forces have recaptured the villages but face ongoing challenges from al-Shabaab in the countryside.
