Somalia claims liberating 5 villages from al-Shabaab

By Mohammed Dhaysane

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AA) - Somali forces claimed to have killed at least 12 al-Shabaab militants and liberated five villages from al-Qaeda affiliated group in the country’s south.

Hassan Adan Mohamed, a commander of the country’s elite forces, told state media that the forces conducted an operation against al-Shabaab in lower Juba province, killing 12 militants and wounding 15 others.

He said that the forces liberated Malayley, Janale-gay, Rernerow, Bandar Jadiid and Bengani villages from al-Shabaab during the military operation.

The liberated villages located approximately 90 kilometers ( 56 miles) from the port city of Kismayo, the administrative capital of Jubaland State.

On Sunday night, heavy fighting between Somali forces and al-Shabaab in the coastal town of Marka, lower Shabelle region, killed at least militants and wounded 12 others.