Somali National Army (SNA) has announced that in a series of operations in the Middle Shabelle region, several Al-Shabaab fighters were killed and equipment destroyed. Somali forces have recently stepped up the fight against Al-Shabaab fighters in Southern Somalia in attempts to rid the area of the extremist elements.
The SNA forces destroyed Al-Shabaab boats and rafts which the fighters have been using to cross the river. The militants have been using the rafts to navigate across the river and into the neighboring villages either to collect zakat and or conduct attacks.
The announcement by the military comes hours after U.S. military said it killed about 60 Al-Shabaab fighters in an airstrike that took place in central Somalia. Middle Shabelle has been the center-stage of many attacks and location of training camps as the geographical terrain of the thicket and river vegetation offers camouflage. However, the efforts by SNA, AMISOM, US, and other allied troops have been gradually closing in on the al Shabaab and as such on the brink of defeat.
