At least 30 al-Shabaab militants were killed in heavy fighting between Somali army forces, backed by international partners and al-Shabaab insurgents in southern Somalia.
The fighting took place in the Qoryoley district of the Lower Shabelle region when the militants briefly entered parts of the district, sparking an hour-long gun battle with security forces that successfully pushed back the group. The security forces and local militia now maintain complete control of the district.
According to the Ministry of Information, joint forces managed to destroy vehicles loaded with explosives, and government troops are pursuing the militants who managed to escape.
“We have eliminated more than 30 al-Shabaab militants in a military operation in the Qoryoley district after the group attempted to launch an attack on the district,” the statement reported.
The attack comes days after the Somali government troops retreated from El Dheer, Masagaway, Gal’ad, and Budbud in the Galgadud region following a deadly al-Shabab attack on soldiers in Cowsweyne village on Saturday.
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud denied al-Shabab’s claim that 178 soldiers were killed in the Cowsweyne attack a day ago. Instead, he said that al-Shabab lost the most and buried their dead in mass graves.
