Mogadishu: Somali intelligence forces have successfully eliminated 12 al-Shabaab terrorists and injured three others in a targeted operation in southern Somalia, as reported by the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) on Tuesday. According to Anadolu Agency, the operation took place on Monday in the Qaahira area of the Middle Shabelle region, leading to the destruction of several al-Shabaab weapon caches and safehouses. NISA disclosed this information on US social media platform X, highlighting the success of their ongoing efforts against the insurgent group. Furthermore, NISA detailed another operation conducted earlier in the week in the Maxaa Saciid area of the same region. This effort resulted in the elimination of five al-Shabaab leaders and inflicted serious injuries on three others. The operations are part of a sustained campaign against the al-Qaeda-affiliated group, which has been waging an insurgency against the Somali government for over 16 years. The group frequently targets security forces, officials, and civilians in its attacks. Since July of the previous year, the Somali army, supported by the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) and other international partners, has intensified its operations against al-Shabaab. The AU mission's mandate, crucial for these efforts, was extended by the UN Security Council in December through a UK-backed resolution, authorizing its continuation until the end of the year.