MOGADISHU, Somalia – Somali National Army (SNA) forces have killed 47 Al-Shabaab militants on October 5, 2024, in an aerial and ground operation in the Ceeldheer district of the Galgaduud region, about 350 km from the Somali capital, Mogadishu.
Backed by Ma’awisley fighters and international partners, the SNA forces targeted a forest between the Bida Ciise and Geriile areas where many Al-Shabaab militants were regrouping, according to a statement released by the Ministry of Information.
During the operation, the ministry reported that a vehicle prepared by the militants with explosives intended to harm civilians was also destroyed.
The coalition forces also reportedly conducted operations in the Hussein Agay and Ali Yabal areas and successfully dismantled hideouts used by the Al-Shabaab group.
This comes days after Al-Shabaab killed five people and wounded seven others in a car bomb explosion in the capital, Mogadishu.
Despite losing control of many towns, the al-Qaeda-linked terror group has stepped up attacks since President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud declared an ‘all-out war’ to remove the militant group from Somalia.
Driven out of the capital, Mogadishu, in 2011 by Somali army and African Union troops, the extremist group still carries out deadly attacks.
They have been battling for more than a decade to topple the Somali government and establish their strict interpretation of Islamic sharia law.
The terror group still holds large swaths of territory in the south and central regions, from which it is believed to launch deadly attacks against SNA Forces and African Union peacekeepers’ bases and the capital, Mogadishu.
