Somali troops eliminate al-Shabaab leaders in military operations

Somali forces, with the support of international partners, have carried out military operations in Galmudug, Hirshabelle, and Southwest State over the past two days, resulting in the killing of at least 80 al-Shabaab militants, including some of the group’s leaders, TRT Afrika reported.

The operations were launched in response to an attack by the al-Qaeda-affiliated terror group on a military base in the Lower Shabelle region.

The group’s fighters used suicide car bombs to gain access to the facility, resulting in the deaths of seven Somalia soldiers, including the base commander, and 10 al-Shabaab fighters.

For nearly two decades, the Sunni extremist group has been engaged in a battle to overthrow Somalia’s central government.

In December, Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud declared his government’s goal to eliminate al-Shabaab within a year.