Nineteen al-Shabaab militants have been killed in two separate airstrikes in the central and southern states of Galmudug and Hirshabelle, Somalia’s Information Ministry said on Wednesday.

According to the ministry’s statement, the Somali army, in cooperation with international partners, carried out two separate military operations in Gedmarke and Eyl Haley towns in Hirshabelle and Galmudug states.

The operation comes weeks after 42 members of the group were killed in a joint military operation between the Somali army and civilian forces (Jubaland Dervishes) in Lower Juba and Galmudug regions in the south and center of the country.

The Somali government has been waging a war against al-Shabaab, which was founded in early 2004 and is linked to al-Qaeda, and has claimed responsibility for bombings that have killed civilians and members of the army and police.