Somalia army deals blow to Al-Shabaab amid stepped up Ops

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MOGADISHU, Somalia - A top Al-Shabaab commander was on Sunday killed by security forces in Somalia, showcasing again the committee by the country's security forces in taming radical elements in the Horn of Africa nation, which is struggling with stability after years of civil war and Al-Shabaab resurgence.

The Al-Shabaab militants still control large swathes of rural central and southern Somalia, but in recent months, they have been ceding grounds following a joint military operation waged by the Somali National Army [SNA], African Union Mission Forces, and the US Africa Command.

According to statistics released by the military, several militants have either been killed or arrested since March this year, with dozens of others getting arrested by vigilant security forces. There are also dozens of loyal military officers who have been killed during the attacks.

Sources within SNA told reporters that Mohamed Suleiman, a senior commander working with the Al-Qaeda linked group, was killed following an operation which was launched in southern Somalia by security forces who have been pursuing him for a while.

The military says Mohamed Suleiman was in charge of youth radicalization and had been recruiting young people to the militants in as many years. Before his death, he was one of the most sought Al-Shabaab commanders within the country and had often managed to skip several traps.

During his time in Al-Shabaab, the commander is said to have recruited thousands of young people to the group besides waging Al-Shabaab attacks against security forces in the country. His death was described as a "milestone" in the fight against the militants.

Suleiman joins the growing list of militants who have died this year, including Bashir Qorab, the former senior commander of the group who died following an airstrike by the US Africa Command in the southern part of the country early this year.

Al-Shabaab has been battling to topple the fragile UN-backed Somalia administration which controls sections despite the fact that thousands of foreign troops have been helping them. Although Al-Shabaab is a dangerous group, it has been substantially degraded in recent months according to classified security reports.

Somali army kills a key Al-Shabaab commander in charge of the Youth radicalization. Mohamed Suleiman was killed during a raid in the south of the country as the war on the extremist group intensified.

GAROWE ONLINE

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