Doha: Somali army has announced that more than 40 members of Al-Qaeda-linked Al-Shabaab group were killed in an airstrike in El Baraf town in the Middle Shabelle region of Hirshabelle State.

According to Qatar News Agency, the army said in a statement that the military operation, carried out in cooperation with the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM), resulted in the destruction of several vehicles and explosives used by Al-Shabaab members to carry out attacks.

The Somali army has recently intensified military operations against Al-Shabaab members and has successfully regained control of several areas previously held by the group, particularly in the central regions of the country.