Special Forces kill Al-Shabaab militants including foreigners

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MOGADISHU, Somalia - Al-Shabaab suffered a huge blow on Saturday after an operation spearheaded by the Somali army's Danab contingent, which has been working around the clock to liberate several strategic towns that are currently under the control of the Al-Qaida linked group.

SNA radio said that at least 17 Al-Shabaab militants were killed by the Special Forces in Sablale area of Lower Shebelle, a notorious recruitment and training center of the Al-Shabaab, which has continued to wreak havoc in Somalia and across the borders for over a decade.

For the last ten months, the SNA, AU Mission Forces, and the US Africa Command have been focusing on rural central and southern Somalia in a nationwide crackdown, with Lower Shabelle, Middle, and Lower Jubba being the main focus due to an estimated high number of Al-Shabaab.

According to Somali army radio, among those killed in a brief gunfight in the base were foreign nationals from Tanzania and Syria, who are said to be explosives experts with the jihadist group.

Their identities were immediately revealed by the Army radio as Suleyman Abu Mahfud of Tanzanian origin and Abu Yasir from Syria. Both were top commanders in the Al-Shabaab and led many operations.

The Al-Shabaab is synonymous with the recruitment of foreign fighters from across East Africa and the Middle East. The fighters are paid through money obtained from external financiers, Zakat taxes, and ransom usually collected from people abducted within territories controlled by the group.

Previously, the security officers had managed to kill a number of foreign fighters including a recent airstrike in Puntland which reportedly killed a Pakistani fighter. Al-Shabaab still controls large swathes of rural central and southern Somalia.

The operation came just a few days after the US Africa Command announced two airstrikes last week which left eight fighters dead in Middle Jubba. The airstrikes at Jilib town targeted militants who are responsible for explosives that are used by the Al-Shabaab, the US Africa Command said.

Separately, Al-Shabaab reportedly captured Milho village in Puntland on Friday night after a fight by security forces manning the village. This is the first major success for the group which has significantly lost control of her former strongholds across the country.

Lasqoray district commissioner told VOA that Al-Shabaab militants also abducted seven gold traders in the area on Thursday. Although the group still controls large swathes of rural central and southern Somalia, it has been degraded following joint military efforts in the country.

GAROWE ONLINE

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