Somalia kills over 100 Al-Shabaab militants in operation - official

MOGADISHU, Somalia - The Somali National Army [SNA] with the help of local militia has killed over 100 Al-Shabaab militants, in the latest crackdown which comes just hours after the militants attacked Tawakal Hotel in Kismayo, in an incident that left over three people dead.

According to Abdirahman Yusuf Al-Adala, the deputy information minister of Somalia, the militants were killed by the SNA with the help of the elite National Intelligence Security Agency [NISA], who targeted senior commanders in the Horn of Africa nation.

Among those killed, include Abdullahi Ali Araye and Musab Abdalla Saney during a NISA operation in Masjidka Ali Gadud area of ​​the Middle Shabelle region, Deputy Info Minister Al-Adala told reporters at a press conference on Monday, but no independent source could prove the incident.

The Al-Shabaab militants have been fighting to control the government but resilience from the SNA, African Union Transition Mission in Somalia [ATMIS], US Africa Command, and local militia, who have been flushing out the militants from several parts of the country.

The United States joined the world in condemning the attack at Tawakal Hotel in Kismayo, noting that they will continue helping the country to fight the militants, who still control large swathes of rural central and southern Somalia. The US has been critical in supporting local trips.

"The United States stands with the people and government of Somalia in condemning the attack by al-Shabaab on the Tawakal Hotel in Kismayo. Our condolences are with the families of those killed and our solidarity and support continue to all who reject extremist violence," read the statement.

The US has dispatched over 500 elite soldiers to support and enhance the Danab Special forces, who are instrumental in the fight against Al-Shabaab. The Al-Shabaab militants have been fighting to topple the fragile UN-backed federal government.

Jubaland's VP Mohamud Sayid called for a united front against Al-Shabaab following Tawakal hotel attack on Sunday in Kismayo that killed at least 9 people. This was the first major attack on Jubaland territory in as many months by the Al-Shabaab militants.

This comes as Turkish drones BayraktarTB2 were reported bombing Al-Shabaab positions in the Ali Gadud Mosque village and nearby areas in the Middle Shabelle region for the second day in a row as heavy fighting between Somalia army and the militants for control was ongoing, military sources say.

GAROWE ONLINE