MOGADISHU (Halbeeg News) – Somali government has called on al-Shabaab fighters to surrender amid intensified operations against the group in south-central regions.
In a statement, the Information ministry Friday said a well-coordinated military operation neutralised 40 Al-Shabaab fighters in the Middle Shabelle region.
The operation was jointly conducted by Somali National Army (SNA), National Intelligence Agency and International partners in Ali-Fooldhere village.
“The operation targeted members of Khawarij al-Shabaab who were mobilizing themselves in the forest in apparent preparation for a terror attack,” the statement reads in part. “This operation is part of the larger plan to eliminate the Khawarij countrywide and contain their movement to different places where they remain.”
The development comes as Somali military and local militias have intensified operations to liberate villages and towns under al-Shabaab fighters in south-central Somalia.
Despite losing many towns to the government forces, the group still wages deadly attacks on military bases, security checkpoints and hotels.
Last week, al-Shabaab killed 8 people and several others in a deadly hotel seige in Mogadishu. The hotel siege took more than 18 hours before the government forces ended it by killing four attackers.
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