Somalia military deals major blow to Al-Shabaab in south, 100 fighters killed

MOGADISHU, Somalia - The Somali National Army [SNA] claims to have killed over 100 Al-Shabaab militants in the past few weeks following a sustained operation across the country targeting various terror groups which have been killing innocent civilians in the Horn of Africa nation.

A statement released by the Somali National Army on Sunday maintained that with the help of local communities and regional militia, the military was able to capture several strategic towns mainly within HirShabelle, Galmadug, and Southwest state, which are constant targets of Al-Shabaab.

The military noted that some of the areas targeted were Galgaduud, Hiiraan, and the Bay region where the Al-Shabaab has been a domineering figure for the last couple of years. Through these towns, the military noted, Al-Shabaab has managed to antagonize locals successfully.

"The Somali National Army [SNA] with the assistance of the local militia have liberated several villages in HirShabelle, Galmadug, and Southwest, killing over 100 Al-Shabaab militants in the process," read the statement, which comes amid heightened Al-Shabaab activities in the country.

"The operations to weed out terrorism shows the commitment of the government to set the country free from terrorists and groups like Al-Shabaab and has been going on for the last couple of months," the military added in the statement.

While thanking locals for their concerted effort to degrade the group, the military insisted that it shall continue with operations in the next couple of months, adding that it's keen to liberate areas where Al-Shabaab has been controlling with impunity for the last couple of years.

"The terror group has been using these towns as strongholds to organize attacks using explosives and suicide bombers on different parts of the country, " the military noted, in one of the major milestones within the federal republic of Somalia.

Al-Shabaab militants have been targeting humanitarian trucks and innocent civilians, a move meant to suffocate the population which is already fighting drought and hunger.

The militants are also keen to expand their revenue collection schemes, a move which has been severally thwarted by local officials in Somalia.

GAROWE ONLINE