20 al-Shabab militants killed in southern Somalia

militants

MOGADISHU, Sept. 2 (Xinhua) -- The Somali National Army and international partners on Saturday killed 20 al-Shabab militants during an operation in the lower Shabelle region of southern Somalia, an official said.

Abdirahman Yusuf Al-Adala, deputy minister of information, culture and tourism, said that the joint forces hit the militants in their hideout during the dawn operation.

A military offensive against the militants has been intensified in central Somalia, Al-Adala added.