MOGADISHU (Halbeeg News) – Somali army has vowed to geared up the operations against al-Shabaab fighters in central and southern Somalia amid SNA claims of death of over 100 fighters in less than a week emerged.
Speaking to the media on Friday, Somali military spokesperson, Ali Hashi said the military managed to liberate dozens of al-Shabaab-controlled villages in Middle Shabelle region following covert operations against al-Shabaab.
Hashi noted that the military killed over fifty al-Shabaab fighters during an operation that is still ongoing.
“We killed 70 Shabab militants, including two senior commanders for guerrilla attacks, and injured several others in the ongoing operation against the terrorists near Jowhar town,” he said.
Hashi did not say whether there were casualties on the side of the Somali army, but unverified reports said some senior commanders could have succumbed or sustained serious injuries in fierce fighting.
Last Thursday, the military confirmed death of a senior military officer, Mohamed Abdiwahid, Commander of the sixth battalion of Somalia’s special forces (Gorgor) who was killed in a fierce battle between Somali National Army (SNA) and al-Shabab at Jalable village in the Middle Shabelle region.
“The hero who has paid the ultimate price for his country’s stability has been in the military service more than 10 years,” the SNA said in a statement.
The deceased soldier who was trained in Turkey was among several soldiers who are conducting security operations to flush out al-Shabab in the Middle Shabelle region.
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