Al-Shabaab suffers worst defeat as Somalia's army takes back key areas

Al-Shabaab has been battling against western-backed government based in Mogadishu for a decade [Photo: AP]

MOGADISHU, Somalia - The Somalia-based Al-Shabaab militants on Tuesday suffered heavy casualties in the Mudug region, central Somalia, state media reported, in the latest crackdown against the militants, who still control several villages in the country.

According to the state media, at least 90 al-Shabaab terrorists were killed in an airstrike in Somalia's central province of Mudug, a statement which has since been confirmed by the Somali National Army [SNA].

"Today al-Shabaab militants attempted to attack Amara village and suffered huge losses. This afternoon an airstrike has been carried out against al-Shabaab that killed at least 90 terrorists," it said on Twitter.

Last month, the Somali National Army along with Galmadug regional forces liberated Amaara village from the Al-Shabaab militants. Since then, the troops have been trying to reinforce order and stability in the town, by supporting the local administration.

The statement did not mention which country carried out the airstrike, but state media quoting military officials said that "international partners" were behind it.

But later on Tuesday, the US Africa Command, which has been instrumental in the fight against Al-Shabaab, confirmed helping SNA troops in the operation. The US army further said it had not assessed the casualties.

U.S. forces are authorized to conduct strikes in support of combatant commander-designated partner forces under the 2001 Authorization of Use for Military Force, it said in a statement.

"A battle-damage assessment is still pending due to the ongoing engagement between al-Shabaab and Somali forces. The command’s initial assessment is that no civilians were injured or killed as a result of this airstrike," read the press release.

However, al-Shabaab said its fighters attacked the village starting with a suicide car bomb blast followed by a firefight. It claimed to have seized 14 vehicles, including 12 belonging to the military, during the fighting.

A military official in the region, who spoke to the Anadolu Agency on the condition of anonymity, said no government forces or regional paramilitary forces were killed but admitted that there are injuries. He said the military repulsed the al-Shabaab attack.

The Federal Government of Somalia and the U.S. remain committed to fighting al-Shabaab to prevent the deaths of innocent civilians, the US said. Violent extremist organizations like al-Shabaab present long-term threats to the U.S. and regional interests, it added.

GAROWE ONLINE