At least seven al-Shabaab fighters have been killed and several others wounded following clashes with Somali forces in southern Somalia.
In a statement, Somali national army chief, Odawaa Yussuf Raghe said the fighters were killed in security operations conducted near War-Ise village in Middle Shabelle region.
According to Raghe, the forces confiscated military trucks and equipment belonging to al-Shabaab.
“The purpose of the operation was to prevent terrorist attacks against the Somali people,” he said, adding that several al-Shabab bases in the area as well as illegal mobile courts where they used to harass civilians were destroyed.
Al-Shabaab has not yet commented on the remarks of the military boss.
Somali military has intensified operations to hunt down al-Shabaab fighters in central and southern Somalia.
The newly elected President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has pledged to enhance security and liberate areas under the comtrol of al-Shabaab.
Al-Shabaab which has been fighting Somali government for more than a decade now controls over a dozen villages in central and southern Somalia.
The group also carries out deadly attacks against the government institutions, military bases and major towns controlled by the government.
