Airstrike targets key Al-Shabaab bases in Somalia

MOGADISHU, Somalia - More than 19 Al-Shabaab militants have been killed in the latest airstrike in Somalia, state media reports, noting that the operation was carried out in central regions where the militants have been antagonizing locals within the area.

The airstrikes were activated in Ruunnirgood and Ceeldheer districts in the Galgadud region, where the military has been active for the last two years since the declaration of total war against al-Shabaab militants.

The Middle Shabelle region is one of the Al-Shabab strongholds and for the last two years, several Alshabab militants have been killed by security forces. The airstrikes specifically targeted the militants, officials said.

"In an aerial operation, a series of airstrikes targeted al-Shabaab terrorists in the Ruunnirgood and Ceeldheer districts, spanning the Middle Shabelle and Galgaduud regions," state media reports.

"The bombings struck multiple terrorist hideouts, resulting in significant casualties among the terrorists and the destruction of their vehicles and safe havens," the statement further read, pledging to give further details.

Although the state media did not disclose the military teams involved, more often than not, the Somali National Army conducts such operations against Al-Shabaab in the presence of the US Africa Command and the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS).

Both the US Africa Command and the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia have been working closely in the elimination of Al-Shabaab from strategic areas. So far, several areas have been liberated from the militants.

The ATMIS team is set to leave by the end of this year but a new mission dubbed African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) is set to take over. The mission shall be led by Egypt, Somalia insists.

GAROWE ONLINE