69 Al-Shabaab Militants Killed In Pair Of Ops

Somali military officials say that scores of militants have been killed in separate operations in south and central Somalia, reports the Voice of America News.

At least 49 militants were killed in one operation in the Middle Shabelle region on Wednesday. Al-Shabaab militants were regrouping at a farm near the Dhagahow area when a combined force of Somali National Army troops, allied militias and international partners attacked, a defense ministry spokesman said. Weapons were seized from the site.

In another operation, 20 Al-Shabaab terrorists were killed, including senior commanders, when SNA troops attacked a militant base in Goof-Gadud village, 18 miles (30 km) north of Baidoa in Southwest state.

The attack was a pre-emptive measure to stop a planned strike on government forces, said Hassan Abdulkadir, the Southwest state justice minister.

Five government soldiers died in that operation, the minister said.