MOGADISHU, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- The Somali National Army (SNA) on Wednesday killed 11 al-Shabab militants including four commanders during a military operation in areas in southern Somalia, officials said.

SNA commander for Sector 43 Mohamed Bule said several militants were injured during the operation conducted at Muse Haji and Arare locations near the administrative capital of Jubbaland State.

Bule told reporters that the military operations are aimed at liberating more areas still under the militants' control.

"The army killed 11 al-Shabab fighters including four senior commanders and injured several others, one of the four commanders is foreigner from Kenya. The operation began on Tuesday night and ended on Wednesday morning with progress," he said.

The army commander did not say whether there were casualties on Somali National Army and Jubbaland State forces during the operation.

The al-Qaida allied terrorist group has not commented on the latest onslaught by government forces.

The Somali security forces backed by AMISOM forces have intensified their assault against the militants as part of efforts to pacify the Horn of Africa nation.