In Harardheere district, Macaawisley community fighters carried out a coordinated raid on the village of Dumaaye in the north central Mudug region, killing six Al Shabab fighters and recovering four AK-47 rifles, ammunition and other equipment.
The ministry added that Somali National Army troops blocked an attempted suicide attack near Dabaagalo, around 35 kilometres northwest of Harardheere, disrupting the Al Qaeda-linked group’s effort to undermine local security.
Further west, government forces conducted an operation on the Garasweyne to Moraagabey route, about 37 kilometres from Hudur in Bakool, killing five more Al Shabab members and seizing two AK-47 rifles and additional gear.
The ministry said the dead included senior members of the group, naming Ibraahim Caliyow, Mohamed Macalin, Aadan Mohamed Same and Abdullahi Aadan Dheere.
Somali forces, backed by the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia and other international partners, have intensified operations against the group since July. Al Shabab has carried out attacks on security forces, officials and civilians for more than 16 years.