Somalia announces death of Al Shabaab commander in Lower Shabelle operation

Somali authorities announced Monday the death of an Al Shabaab commander in new operations carried out against the terrorist group in Lower Shabelle region, amid an upsurge in offensives in recent months.

Somali Deputy Information Minister Abdirahman Yusuf Adala told the Somali state news agency SONNA that the operation was carried out between KM-60 and Shalanbod and added that it resulted in the destruction of Al Shabaab positions.

“Somali National Army forces have killed a terrorist commander and his militiamen and destroyed checkpoints where terrorists were extorting money,” he said, before stressing that “the operations are aimed at opening key routes in the region.”

Somalia has in recent months stepped up offensives against Al Shabaab with the support of local clans and militias as part of a series of decisions taken by President Hassan Shaykh Mohamud, who pledged on taking office to put the fight against terrorism at the heart of his efforts to stabilize the African country.

Source: msn