MOGADISHU, Jan. 6– Five al-Shabab militants were killed on Tuesday during an operation carried out by the Somali National Army in the Gedo region of southern Somalia, officials said.
In a statement issued in the capital, Mogadishu, Somalia’s Ministry of Defense said that the forces also destroyed facilities belonging to the al-Qaida-linked terrorist network in the region, amid mounting concern over its persistent harassment of local communities.
“This operation forms part of the Somali National Army forces’ ongoing efforts to safeguard security and dismantle terrorist threats, with the aim of protecting the lives and property of civilians,” the ministry said.
The ministry reaffirmed the government’s commitment to intensifying counterterrorism operations across the country until all remaining al-Shabab hideouts are dismantled.
Government forces, backed by international partners, have recently ramped up military offensives against al-Shabab, resulting in the deaths of more than 60 terrorists. (Namibia Daily News / Xinhua)
