The Somali Information Ministry announced on Wednesday that a military operation in the Galgaduud and Middle Shabelle regions left nine al-Shabaab militants dead and ten wounded.
A statement by the ministry described the operation as “well-planned” and conducted by the national army in cooperation with “international partners” near Ali Heelle and Baraag Sheikh Amir.
The statement added that vehicles and equipment belonging to al-Shabaab, referred to as “Khawarij” by the government, were also destroyed.
Somalia’s government has vowed to intensify its campaign against al-Shabaab, a Somalia-based extremist group affiliated with al-Qaeda.
The group has been a major source of insecurity in the country for years, and has intensified attacks since President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud took office and declared “all-out war” on the militants.
The Somali military, backed by local militias and international supporters, has been conducting counter-insurgency operations against al-Shabaab since 2022.
Somalia continues to face threats from other extremist groups like Daesh/ISIS,but al-Shabaab remains the primary security concern for the country.
