Somali security forces have conducted a major sweep in Lower Shabelle region where they arrested nineteen Al-Shabaab militants.
According to Somalia Information Minister Abdrahman Omar Osman, those arrested included eight mid-level commanders of the terror group led by emir of Afgoye district, Aweys Khadar Ahmed.
Others are identified as;
- Abdullahi Mohamud Mukhtaar (Ileey)
- Salah Abdulkadir Abdulle
- Mohamed Aweys Ali
- Mohamed Hussein Salad (Yemeni)
- Mohamed Ali Hassan
- Bakar Mohamed Yaqub
- Sakariya Salad Mohamed
- Aweys Kamal Muhiadin
The arrest follows a series of US airstrikes in the region in the last two week whereby over 100 militants have been killed.
Lower Shabaab is usually used as a launching pad for attacks by the Al-Qaeda linked Al-Shabaab with Somali President vowing to push on in the final offensive against the enemy.
