Somalia’s National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) said Tuesday that it carried out twin security operations that killed 28 Al Shabab terrorists.

The operations with international partners supporting the central government took place in the southern Lower and Middle Shabelle regions.

One of the operations in the area of Kunyo Barrow, Lower Shabelle region, targeted Al Shabab’s secret facilities, which the group was using for bomb-making and weapons maintenance.

Seven terrorists were killed, including members of the group’s bomb engineers, while the second airstrikes in Middle Shabelle region killed 21 terrorists, NISA said in a statement.

“The operation destroyed technical equipment, stockpiles stored in those facilities, and two vehicles being prepared with explosives,” according to the statement.

Al Shabab has carried out terrorist attacks against the Somali government for more than 16 years, frequently targeting security forces, officials and civilians.

Since last July, the Somali army, with the support of the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia, or AUSSOM, and other international partners, has stepped up operations against the group supporting the central government.

AUSSOM’s mandate was renewed for another year by the UN Security Council in December, with a resolution extending authorization until December 31.​​​​​​​