MOGADISHU, Somalia 

The Somali military killed nine terrorists and wounded 13 others in a military operation against terrorist group al-Shabaab in lower Shabelle, southwestern Somalia, the army announced on Wednesday.

Somali National Army (SNA) radio said they “conducted a planned operation in the villages of Shaamagare and Rayaqle located between the towns of Awdhegle and Bariire,” adding that the army also seized weapons.

The operation came a day after the army liberated two strategic villages in the Gedo region.

The al-Qaeda-affiliated terrorist group has yet to comment on the army's claim.

However, the group said that on Tuesday it killed a senior military official in a bomb blast targeting a military convoy on the outskirts of Garbaharey, capital of the southwestern region of Gedo.

​​​​​​​It has claimed responsibility for many recent attacks on civilians and troops in the Horn of Africa country.​​​​​​​