Somali army kills 60 Al-Shabab militants in central region

MOGADISHU, Somalia -- The Somali National Army (SNA) on Sunday morning killed 60 al-Shabab militants and wounded several others in a joint operation near Halgan town in central Somalia, the government said.

The operation targeted al-Shabab militants and their commanders who were re-grouping to attack areas in central Somalia, the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism said in a statement issued in the capital Mogadishu.

"The SNA and international partners also destroyed several terrorist bases and weapons in the areas. The army is still pursuing the terrorists who escaped from the scene," the ministry said.

The al-Shabab group has not commented on the latest military operation.

The Somali government forces backed by the African Union Mission in Somalia drove al-Shabab out of Mogadishu in 2011, but the terrorist group is still capable of conducting attacks, targeting government installations, hotels, restaurants, and public places.