Mogadishu, Somalia — Somali authorities say an airstrike has killed at least 18 al-Shabab fighters, including bomb experts, in the town of Sakow in the Middle Juba region of southern Somalia.
Somalia’s Defence Ministry said the strike destroyed a facility used by the armed group to manufacture explosive devices, describing it as the largest explosives production site.
Among those killed were engineers involved in making bombs used in attacks against civilians and Somali security forces, the ministry said.
There was no immediate comment from Al Shabab over the claims.
Somalia has stepped up military operations against al-Shabab in recent years, often with support from international partners, including the United States.
The armed group remains active in parts of southern and central Somalia, carrying out attacks targeting government officials, security forces and civilians.
Somalia’s government says it will continue its counterterrorism campaign, vowing to intensify operations aimed at weakening al-Shabab.
Al-Shabab still holds large swaths of rural territory, including the Middle Jubba region, where its top leaders have been based since being driven out of Mogadishu in 2011.
