Thursday June 25, 2020
MOGADISHU, June 25 (Xinhua) -- Somali National Army (SNA) on Wednesday killed six al-Shabab militants in an operation in the outskirts of Jamame and Kismayo towns in the southern region, a military officer confirmed on Thursday.
Hassan Aden Iraqi, commander of SNA's 5th Unit 16th Division told reporters that the army conducted a planned operation inflicting severe casualties on the militants.
"We took over Hawaljiri, Yaqbishar and Bernasey villages during the operation and our forces killed six al-Shabab militants in a confrontation between the army and the militants," Iraqi said.
He added that the forces will intensify the operations until they drive out the militants from the whole region.
Locals said heavily armed forces attacked al-Shabab militants in villages outside of Kismayo and Jamame towns.
On June 17, the soldiers backed by AMISOM forces killed seven al-Shabab militants in another operation in the outskirts of Beledweyn town in the central region of Hiran.
The government forces have stepped up operations against al-Shabab extremists in central and southern regions in recent days, but the militants still control swathes of rural areas conducting ambushes and planting landmines.