Mogadishu(Mogadishu24)-Somali National Army backed by the International Partners killed 39 Al-Shabaab fighters after conducting joint operations including an airstrike at Baldoska and Bagdad locations near Afgoye district in lower Shabelle region, Information Ministry said Tuesday.

The Ministry said in a statement that 24 of the militants were killed in fighting at Baldoska while 15 others were killed in an airstrike that happened at Bagdad area in the same region, adding that the militants took their injured ones to Farsoley and Bula-fuley locations in the region.

The statement added the forces were still conducting operations along the coast line to the Marka, the capital of lower Shabelle region, flushing out militants hiding out those areas.

Al-Shabaab militants claimed to have killed 9 security forces and injured others near Jambalul location near Afgoye district yesterday while also confirmed that airstrike attack at areas under their control, but said that it targeted civilians killing 18 people.