In a significant blow to the extremist group al-Shabab, Somalia’s army has announced the successful elimination of 44 militants in the ongoing offensive in the Lower Shabelle region. Deputy Information Minister of Somalia, Abdirahman Al-Adala, revealed on Saturday that the operation, carried out by the intelligence unit with the support of international partners, targeted the Ali Fuuto area, located approximately 200 kilometers from the capital city of Mogadishu, near the Kurtowarey district.
Minister Al-Adala explained that the militants were in the process of regrouping when the operation was launched. This offensive comes just a week after the Somali army reported the neutralization of 67 militants in the central Mudug region.
Since the commencement of the campaign last July, Somali security forces have been actively engaged in major operations against al-Shabab. The government disclosed in April that over 3,000 al-Shabab fighters have been eliminated since the military campaign began. Troops from Djibouti, Ethiopia, and Kenya have provided valuable support through joint military operations against al-Shabab strongholds.
The recent operation in Somalia’s Lower Shabelle region took place on Friday and was conducted by the national intelligence and security agency in collaboration with international partners. It specifically targeted the outskirts of Kurtowarey, a small town situated 208 kilometers (229 miles) southwest of Mogadishu, the nation’s capital.
Deputy Information Minister Abdirahman Yusuf Adala further revealed that senior al-Shabab commanders were among the terrorists neutralized during this operation, demonstrating a significant blow to the leadership and command structure of the extremist group.
Somalia’s security forces have been actively pursuing al-Shabab ever since President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud declared an “all-out war” against the terrorist organization last year. Al-Shabab has been engaged in prolonged conflict against the Somali government and the African Union mission since 2007.
The nation of Somalia has long grappled with insecurity, with al-Shabab and Daesh/ISIS posing as the primary threats. The successful offensive against al-Shabab in the Lower Shabelle region marks another important milestone in Somalia’s ongoing efforts to combat terrorism and restore peace and stability to the country.
Image Credit: Feisal Omar/Reuters
