Somali army kills 8 al-Shabab militants in southern regions

Eight al-Shabab fighters were killed on Tuesday night during a fierce counteroffensive with Somali government forces in Garbaharey town in the southern region of Gedo, a military official said on Wednesday.

Osman Abdi Qorah from Somali National Army (SNA)’s unit 10 told journalists that members of al-Shabab extremists launched an attack on a base used by Somali army in Garbaharey, but the forces repulsed them foiling their attempt to overrun the base.

“There was a fierce fight that lasted for hours, but our forces defeated the militants killing 8 of them, including their commander in the area named Mohamed Dhere,”the military official said.

Qorah confirmed that a government soldier was injuried during the fight. Locals reported a fierce fight broke out in the town.

“Government forces were attacked by militants and they fought for a while but the situation returned normal now,”Sadiyo Aare, a resident told Xinhua by phone.

On Sept. 2, Somali military killed nine al-Shabab militants in an area between Middle and Lower Shabelle regions.

Government forces are on major operations to root al-Shabab extremists out of southern regions, but the militants still hold swathes in rural areas conducting ambushes and planting land mines. Enditem.

Source: XINHUA