MOGADISHU, Dec. 5 (Xinhua) -- Somali security forces have destroyed al-Shabab militants' network in Awdhegle in Lower Shabelle region of southern Somalia following a sting operation in the region, officials said on Wednesday.

National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) said that their forces killed al-Shabab fighters and seized explosive materials used by the militants to carry out terrorist attacks on unspecified locations in the country during the operation conducted on Tuesday night.

Mohamed Ibrahim Bare, governor of Lower Shabelle region, said the forces killed some militants and completely destroyed their network in the midnight operation.

"The forces carried out well planned operation against terrorists preparing explosives. We killed some militants and completely destroyed their network. The operation was a very successful one," Bare said.

Sources said the Somali troops backed by partner forces believed to be the United States forces attacked the militants' tax collection site, killing several militants.

Bare added that the military operations will continue in the same region until all the militants are flushed out of the region.

Al-Shabab militants however said their fighters foiled an attack from a joint United States and Somali forces in the area.

Meanwhile, NISA confirmed the arrest of a senior al-Shabab bomb expert during a sting security operation in Mogadishu.

The security agency said the bomb expert was plotting to carry out a massive bomb attack on public places in the capital, noting that no one was killed during the arrest of the senior militant operative.

The move came as African Union peacekeeping troops and Somali troops have intensified their onslaught against the al-Qaeda affiliated group in southern and central Somalia. Enditem

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