SOMALIA – At least 15 al-Shabaab terrorists were on Sunday killed in targeted strike on southern Somalia’s Middle Shabelle region, according to the army.

In coordination with international partners, the airstrike targeted militants planting improvised explosive devices along a key road in the Middle Shabelle region, destroying a vehicle and weapons used in a plot to attack civilians, according to a ministry statement.

The al-Qaeda-affiliated terror group has been engaged in an insurgency against the Somali government for more than 16 years, frequently targeting security forces, officials, and civilians.

Since last July, the Somali army, with the support of the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia and other international partners, has stepped up operations against al-Shabaab.

The African Union‘s mission mandate was renewed by the UN Security Council in December for another year, with a UK-backed resolution extending its authorization until Dec. 31.