Somalia’s government said on Thursday its soldiers, backed by international partners and local clan militias, killed about 80 al-Shabaab militants and wounded dozens more in three operations in the country’s southern and central regions.
A government official said the attack halted the terrorists’ movement. “The militants are planning to launch a large-scale attack on the important date of the 17th day of Ramadan,” said Abdirahman Yusuf Adala, the government’s deputy information minister.
Adala and Somalia’s defense ministry reported no independent confirmation of the death toll, and al-Shabab had no immediate comment through its spokesman or website.
The Ministry of Information said the Somali National Army carried out a series of coordinated operations in Galmudug, Hershebel and South-West states.
The operations were carried out with the support of international security partners, a press release said. Countries assisting the Somali government include the United States, Türkiye and members of the African Union.
Government officials said the first military operation was carried out in an area near the city of Haraldere in the Mudug region.
In an interview with VOA Somali, Haraldair Regional Commissioner Mohamed Yusuf Kurmiye said that Al-Shabaab members were gathering at the Farah Adan Sands operation site when the Somali National Army launched a surprise attack.
“We received intelligence tips that they were remobilizing and planning an attack on the town, and we responded immediately to neutralize the threat. We killed more than 40 militants and lost 10 soldiers in the battle.” Kurmi Yay said.
The Somali Defense Ministry said the second operation took place in the Fiqaay forest, 15 kilometers away from the Darunichma area in the Middle Shabelle region.
A Defense Ministry statement said more than 35 al-Shabaab members were killed in the area and combat tanks and other armed vehicles were destroyed.
The Somali government said its military killed six al-Shabaab members in a third operation targeting the Wajid area of Bakool region in southwestern Somalia.
Ahead of the 24-hour military operation against Al-Shabaab, militants launched a deadly attack on a military base in the Lower Shabelle region of southwestern Somalia.
Security officials, who requested anonymity, told VOA that at least 17 government soldiers were killed in the attack on the Basili base, which was briefly occupied by the attackers.
A Somali military official told Reuters that al-Shabab fighters used suicide car bombs to break into the facility. He declined to give his name because he was not authorized to speak to the media.
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