MOGADISHU, Somalia – Somali military forces, along with US especial forces carried out joint military offensive against Al Shabaab near Jilib town, about 230 miles (370 km) southwest of Mogadishu. Somali army chief for section 43, Ali Mohamad Bag Madow said at least 30 al-Shabab militants, including two foreign nationals had been killed near the town of Jilib. Madow says two foreign militants, who were identified as Aways Abuhamza of Syria and Hasn Al-qayadi Abu Yahya from Libya were among those killed in the operation. “Our forces backed by US troops killed 30 militants following the operation”, he said. There was no immediate comment from Al Shabaab over the claims. The group has been waging insurgency for more than ten years. The Al Qaeda linked group which once controlled much of the capital of Mogadishu, in 2011, wants to topple the weak-western backed government of Somalia.
