Somalia's special forces confirmed Monday they conducted airstrikes on Sunday night targeting key Al-Shabaab leaders in the country's southwest region.

Interior security ministry spokesman, Mohamed Yusuf, said the forces from the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) carried out air raids in Bardhere district of Gedo region where senior Al-Shabaab militants were held up in a meeting.

"Our forces conducted strikes in Bardhere area Sunday night targeting Al-Shabaab intelligence leader Yusuf Hajji Aden. We have managed to inflict heavy casualties among them," said Yusuf.

"This operation was planned, and it's part of our security operations in coming days against the terrorist groups in the country," he said, adding that the forces returned safely to their bases after the attack.

The spokesman did not, however, confirm if Aden was killed and the number of Al-Shabaab members who were killed in the government' s operation.

Residents in Bardhere said they heard huge explosions at night near the area. "We could hear explosions most part of the night, but we could not get out of homes for fear of our security," said one of the residents.

The airstrikes came a day after Al-Shabaab launched a heavy offensive on a military training base near NISA headquarters. Four militants killed in the attack. Endi

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