AA / Mogadiscio / Abdullah Amin
67 elements of the al-Shabab movement were neutralized on Friday during a military operation in the town of “Ail Baad” in the Middle Shabelle region of Somalia, according to an official military source.
This was stated by the commander of the land forces, Mohamed Tahlil Bahyi, in a statement on the radio “Voice of the army” (Voice of the Army).
“67 of them were killed and dozens were injured,” he said.
He added that the Somali army has identified the areas to which members of the movement have fled, and will continue its combing operations to find them.
The military official also indicated that this security operation was carried out in cooperation with armed clan groups and using drones.
On Thursday, the Somali army announced the liberation of the last town in the Middle Shabelle region, following the movement’s withdrawal.
Since last July, Somali government forces, in cooperation with tribal militias, have continued military operations once morest the rebel al-Shabab movement, during which they eliminated dozens of elements of the movement and regained control of many areas.
For several years, Somalia has been waging a war once morest the rebels of al-Shabab, an armed movement, founded in early 2004, and ideologically affiliated with al-Qaeda. The movement has claimed responsibility for numerous terrorist operations which have caused hundreds of deaths in the country.
*Translated from Arabic by Hajer Cherni
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