At least 13 al-Shabaab terrorists were Sunday killed in Welmarow area, a town 40 kilometers from Afmadow in the Lower Jubba region of Somalia.
Officials said five others including three Kenyans were arrested alive in the operation.
The operation involved troops from Somalia, Kenya, and United States Military Special Operations.
The area borders the Kenya-Somalia border which is usually breached by terrorists.
Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) were involved in the operation together with Somalia National Army.
The attack, which occurred at dawn, targeted a hideout where the terrorists were gathering and a weapons depot belonging to al Shabaab.
The forces, supported by airstrikes from international partners were able to completely destroy the hideout and depot, as well as kill the militants, including several high-ranking leaders, officials said.
IN RECENT MONTHS, the SNA and its international partners have been stepping up their operations against al Shabaab in an offensive to eradicate the group.
The latest attack is a significant blow to al-Shabaab and is a clear indication of the SNA’s determination to defeat the group.
The Ministry of Defense (MOD) in Somalia confirmed the attack to the Somali National News Agency (SONNA), stating that at least 40 al-Shabaab members were killed, including leaders.
Kenyan sources said the troops captured a minibus with 28 Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) already assembled, several RPGs and AK47.
Kenyan shillings currency of approximately Sh200,000 was also retrieved.
The IEDs were to be used in Boni, Ijara, and Garissa, sources said.
KDF troops are under African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS).
Officials said the troops are inching closer to Xagar (Hagar) town in the Lower Juba region.
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Capturing Xagar could give the troops an advantage to be in a position to attack Buale, the official capital of Jubaland state which has been under al Shabaab control for more than 15 years.
Buale is also the regional capital of Middle Juba, the only region entirely controlled by al Shabaab.
And with the ongoing operation in parts of Somalia against the al Shabaab, Kenya expects the attacks in the border region will continue.
This is after most of the terrorists ran away to find refugees along the border where they crossed for the attack.
The terrorists have been attacking places near the Kenyan border by using guns and explosives leaving dozens dead and many injured.
The gang behind the attacks cross from Somalia and launch them amid a campaign to address the issue.
Somalia has not had a stable government after the fall of Siad Barre in 1991.
Kenyan troops are in Somalia under African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) to help in fighting the al-Shabaab terror group.
KDF went to Somalia in October 2011.
