At least 7 terrorists killed in Somalia as troops foil attack

File photo of Somali soldiers. Photo: AFP

MOGADISHU -- Somali National Army (SNA) backed by the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) killed seven al-Shabab terrorists in a foiled attack on Monday in the southern part of the country.

The SNA commanders who led the operation told Radio Mogadishu that the militants had attempted to launch an attack on an army base in Dinsoor, a town in the southern region of Bay.

"Somali National Army and ATMIS forces in Dinsoor town of Bay region on Monday repulsed an attack on Army base by al-Shabab and killed seven terrorists," the state-owned radio reported.

The militants often carry out attacks against government and AU bases in southern and central Somalia despite heavy security and army presence in those areas.

The latest onslaught against the terror group comes as government forces have intensified operations against al-Shabab extremists across the country during the electioneering period, but the militants are still hiding in the rural areas of those regions, conducting ambushes and planting land mines.