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BFF-49
SOMALIA-UNREST
Somalia’s forces kill 3 militants in operation
MOGADISHU, July 8, 2020 (BSS?XINHUA) – Somali National Army (SNA) killed 3 al-Shabab fighters on Tuesday in an offensive on the outskirts of the Somali capital Mogadishu, a military officer confirmed on Wednesday.
Ahmed Mohamed, commander of SNA’s 27th Unit, told reporters on Wednesday that the army conducted a planned operation on the road linking Mogadishu to Jowhar town and inflicted casualties on the militants.
“During the offensive, there was a confrontation between the army and the militants. The forces managed to subdue them, killing three of them,” Mohamed said.
The latest onslaught came after the al-Shabab militants abducted and later killed a regional state lawmaker on the same road on Sunday.
The Somali security forces backed by allied forces have stepped up their air and ground operations against the militants in the Horn of African nation despite the militants’ continued resistance, at times targeting military bases, hotels and other public places.
BSS/XINHUA/SSS/1943 hrs