BAIDOA, Somalia

Somali intelligence and security forces killed nearly two dozen al-Shabaab terrorists during an operation in the central state of Galmudug, said an official statement issued on Tuesday.

“More than 23 members of the Khawarij were killed in an operation by the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) last night in Dharaarweyn area of Galcad town in Galgaduud region,” the agency statement said.

The Somali government refers to al-Qaeda-affiliated terrorist group al-Shabaab as Khawarij.

The NISA also destroyed the logistical infrastructure of the al-Shabaab terror group.

"The extensive operation not only destroyed three vehicles used by the Khawarij for transporting weapons and ammunition, but it also left many of their members injured and scrambling to escape as the National Forces pursue them,” it said.

The statement, however, did not say whether the militants were killed in an airstrike or during a ground operation.

Somali military backed by local militias and international partners has been conducting operations and offensives against the group since 2022.

The country has been plagued by insecurity for years, with the main threats emanating from al-Shabaab and the Daesh/ISIS terror groups.

Since 2007, al-Shabaab has been fighting the Somali government and the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) -- a multidimensional mission authorized by the African Union and mandated by the UN Security Council