Six al-Shabaab fighters have been killed and several others wounded following clashes with the Somali military in the Lower Shabelle region.
In a statement, the Somali military said its forces launched security operations near Kontoy village.
During the operations, Somali forces successfully dismantled IEDs planted on the roadside.
The development comes as the Somali military claimed to have thwarted an al-Shabaab attack on a military base in central Somalia.
The government said over 15 people including al-Shabaab and soldiers were killed in the attack.
Somalia has recently intensified operations against al-Shabaab fighters in Hiiraan, Galgadud and Middle Shabelle regions.
