Mogadishu, July 04 (QNA) - The Somali security forces conducted a security operation in the south-east of the country, the Somali authorities said in a statement on Saturday.

The statement added that the operation, carried out on the outskirts of the Basra area in the Middle Shabelle region, took out eight Al-Shabaab militants affiliated with Al-Qaeda, including leaders who had been active in launching attacks.

These operations were part of persistent efforts to blunt the group’s capabilities and dismantle the networks that had been planning and executing attacks, the statement continued.

Over the past week, the Somali military has conducted similar operations in the same region against Al-Shabaab targets, resulting in the killing and wounding of dozens of operatives. (QNA)