Somali forces kill 17 al-Shabab terrorists in southern region

Somali security forces killed 17 al-Shabab terrorists and wounded several others during security operations in the southern region on Wednesday, officials said on Thursday.

The Somalia National Army, SNA, told Radio Mogadishu that the security operation which was carried out by its special forces, Danab, also saw nine of al-Shabab hideouts destroyed in southern and southwestern states.

“Seventeen al-Shabab terrorists were killed and nine of their hideouts destroyed in special security operations carried out by SNA commanders in Somalia’s Jubaland and Southwest states in the past 24 hours,’’ the radio reported.

The government forces had stepped up operations against al-Shabab and blamed them for staging sporadic attacks targeting AU and government key bases including public places in Mogadishu and elsewhere across the country.

The intensified operation also came ahead of the long-delayed presidential elections to be held in the capital, Mogadishu, on Sunday.

Al-Shabab militants who opposed the ongoing electoral process had staged a series of attacks, targeting delegates in a bid to disrupt the electoral process.

Xinhua/NAN