Government troops killed five Al-Shabaab militants in a security operation carried out in the Lower Shabelle region.
Somali National Army (SNA) took part in an operation in Qoryole District that ended up killing the extremists, including a senior officer with the group known as Abdi Muhsin Sheikh Hussein.
Since last year, SNA forces have increased their operations against members of the Al-Qaeda linked group in the region.
Thus far, Al-Shabaab is yet to respond to the claims by the government regarding the killing of its members.