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MOGADISHU, May 14 (Xinhua) – The Somali National Army (SNA) killed six al-Shabab militants on Wednesday in an operation in the southern Lower Shabelle region, a military official confirmed Thursday.
Abdi Hamid Mohamed Dirir, commander of the Somali infantry division, told reporters that SNA carried out a sting operation in villages between the cities of Jannale and Qoryoley and inflicted casualties on the militants.
“We obtained information about the presence of the militants in the area and our forces advanced towards the area. There was a confrontation between the army and the militants, we defeated them, killing six of them,” said Dirir.
He added that one of those killed in the operation was Abdi Muhsin Hussein, a senior al-Shabab fighter.
“Our forces now control the area and the militants have fled into the forest,” he said.
Locals said the government army attacked al-Shabab members in the village of Bulla Sheikh, sparking an exchange of fire between the two sides.
“There was an exchange of fire between the army and the militants, but the forces are now in the city and the militants have been expelled,” said Hindi Aden, a resident.
The latest operation comes just three days after Somali forces killed three al-Shabab militants, including a foreign operator from Mali, in another operation outside the city of Bu’ale, in the country’s southern region. of the Middle Juba.
Somali forces have stepped up operations against al-Shabab extremists in the southern regions, but militants still maintain strips of rural areas in those regions that ambush and plant landmines. Final product
