Somalia confirmed Friday that its forces rescued 33 children who had been recruited by the Al Shabaab.
The spokesperson of Somali information ministry, Ismail Omar said the forces liberated the town from al-Shabaab now which has been ruling it recently.
Muktar said the children were found at a camp in Kurtunwaarey, a stronghold of the group in lower Shabelle region located 208 kilometers (129 miles) from the capital, Mogadishu.
“Somali forces launched operation against al-Shabaab fighters and During the operation, our forces children who were hostage for the group,” he said.
Mukhtar accused al-Shabaab of recruiting children but vowed the government would never accept kids to be used as militias..
“The children were taken away from their families by the insurgent group al-Shabaab for indoctrination,” he said.
The government forces have stepped up operations against al-Shabaab extremists in southern regions in recent months, but the militants still control swathes of rural areas, conducting ambushes and planting land mines.
