Somalia: Military operation leaves dozens of Al-Shabab militants dead

Somalian army, supported by international partners, have reportedly conducted a successful operation in the country’s lower Shabelle region that killed 49 al-Shabab militants.

The targeted military operation that took place in the village of Buulo Madiino “went as planned and destroyed all the military vehicles and weaponry of the Khawarij Al-Shabaab,” said the Somali Information Ministry in a statement. Khawarij is a term for someone who deviates from Islam.

The Somali government’s death toll could not be verified but residents in the region reported that they heard explosions. The government said the militants were hit while planning to attack the Somali people. It also said there had been airstrikes involved in the operation, but it did not mention which country conducted the strikes.

This comes days after Somali president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud visited frontline towns in the central regions of Hiran and Galgadud. Mohamud, who was re-elected president earlier this year, has declared a “total war” against al-Shabab. The group, meanwhile, has increased their attacks since Mohamud was elected leader. Attacks include a rare July incursion into neighboring Ethiopia that authorities say left hundreds of militants dead and a twin car bombing in Mogadishu in October that killed 120 people.