16th July, 2023
The Somali National Army has descended heavily on al-Shabab and killed eighteen militants in operations in the country’s central state of Galmudug, local media reported Sunday.
The forces targeted al-Shabab militants’ hideouts, destroyed their network and killed militant commanders during the offensive that lasted several hours, the Somali news agency said, quoting Abdirahman Yusuf Al-adala, deputy minister of the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism.
“Our forces destroyed terrorist networks in Budbud and Galcad towns during a special operation in the region on Saturday afternoon. The forces managed to eliminate military commanders,” Adala said.
The government forces have sustained their attacks against the al-Shabab group since President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud declared an all-out war against the militants in 2022.
The president has pledged to intensify military operations against the militants to protect the Somali people from extortion, intimidation and extremism.
(Xinhua/NAN)