Somalia says operation against al-Shabab killed nearly 40 militants

The Somali government said a new military operation against al-Shabaab killed nearly 40 militants in the Lower Shabelle region.

The operation was carried out by the Somali National Army and “international partners,” the government said in a statement from the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism, referring to the involvement of countries that support Somali forces in the airstrikes.

The operation took place in the villages of Barduska and Baghdad, about 30 kilometers north of Mogadishu. The statement did not specify when the operation took place, but local sources said it took place on Monday night.

The statement said the operation was carried out after government forces received information that militants had mobilized in the area to launch attacks on members of the public.

Al-Shabaab-affiliated media also reported on the attack. The al-Shabaab website said the attack on a Baghdad village killed 18 civilians, including seven children. Al-Shabaab media also released photos of those it said were killed in the attack. VOA was unable to independently verify claims of casualties from either side.

VOA Somali Deputy Information Minister Abdirahman Yusuf Adala said the government was examining reports of civilian casualties.

A Somali regional official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not allowed to speak to the media, told VOA Somali that ground and air operations against al-Shabab have been underway in the region since Monday.

Türkiye and the United States have been conducting airstrikes against al-Shabab militants. The Somali government statement did not reveal which international partners were involved in the latest operation, but al-Shabab media claimed without providing evidence that a Turkish drone was behind the Baghdad attack.