At least five Somali soldiers were killed Thursday in an operation launched against Al Shabaab in the Southwest region, clashes that also resulted in the death of 20 suspected members of the terrorist group.
Southwest State Justice Minister Hassan Abdulkadir said the fighting broke out during a «pre-emptive» operation in Guf-Gadud, 30 kilometers north of the state capital Baidoa.
He also specified that among the dead there are several commanders of the terrorist group, although he did not give further details on this point, as reported by the Somali state news agency SONNA.
The operation was launched a day after Somalia announced the death of 50 suspected Al Shabaab members in an operation in the town of Dhagahou, in the Middle Shabelle region. One soldier was also killed during the operation, according to Defense Ministry spokesman Abdulahi Ali Anod.
Somali President Hassan Shaykh Mohamud said Wednesday that security forces will soon expand operations against the group with the launch of a second phase in the southwest region.
Somalia has in recent months stepped up offensives against Al Shabaab with the support of local clans and militias as part of a series of decisions taken by the president, who pledged upon taking office to put the fight against terrorism at the center of his efforts to stabilize the African country.
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
