Somali military kill at least 279 al-Shabaab terrorists in past month

By Mohammed Dhaysane

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AA) - The Somali Armed Forces have killed at least 279 terrorists affiliated with the al-Shabaab terror group in the past month, a military official and state media said on Monday.

The military operations also destroyed 20 hideouts and four vehicles laden with explosives, according to Somali National Television. As many as five towns and 16 villages were also liberated.

The action took place in Hiraan, Middle Shabelle, Lower Shabelle, lower Juba and Mudug regions of south and central Somalia.

The al-Qaeda affiliated group frequently carries out attacks on civilians and armed forces in the East African country. It wants to remove the government and impose its strict interpretation of Islamic sharia law.