The Somali government Tuesday claimed a spectacular military success against al-Shabaab operatives in what it called a large scale offensive to root them from their strongholds in the south of the country.
27 of the militants were killed in the ongoing operations, according to a Somali defense ministry statement seen by APA.
The ministry in a statemet said the operation was carried out by members of the national army, backed by regional security forces and neutralised al-Shabaab kingpins.
Airstrikes by Somalia’s international allies took part in the offensive ”effectively intensifying the targeting of al-Shabaab militants hiding in those areas” the statement said.
Somali officials said the operations had targeted specific locations in the Afmadow, Jilib and Hagar districts of the Middle and Lower Juba regions with arms and ammunitions recovered.
They said landmines which the group had planned to use in the region were also seized.
The defense ministry said it will continue to exert pressure on al-Shabaab to strengthen the security, stability and the safety of civilians everywhere in a country which has witnessed civil strife since 1990 after the overthrow of long term ruler Siad Barrie.
There has been an intensification of the campaign against the militants since last July when a coalition of Somali troops and contingents of the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia backed by US airstrikes dislodged several strongholds of the insurgents in Lower Shabelle region.
al-Shabaab have been waging an insurgency against the Somali government in Mogadishu since 2006, launching daring raids on political targets in the capital and outlying areas.
WN/as/APA