MOGADISHU, March 14 (Xinhua) -- Somalia's National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) backed by international partners killed 22 al-Shabab terrorists during two separate operations carried out in Hiran and Mudug regions.

The NISA said the joint operation which was carried out on Friday evening targeted militants' leaders who were planning to carry out terrorist attacks in the region.

"The NISA has intensified operations to hunt down terrorists to eliminate al-Shabab remnants from all their hideouts," the agency said in a statement issued on Friday evening in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia.

The latest operation comes after the allied forces liberated Daarusalaam, Mubarak and Hawadley, three strategic towns following coordinated assault against al-Shabab terrorists in southern Somalia.

The operations are being conducted under the newly launched Operation Rolling Thunder which aims to dismantle key al-Shabab strongholds, cut off routes used for terrorist activities, weaken al-Shabab's operational capacity, and protect civilians and key strategic sectors. ■