Somali military repels major al-Shabaab attack, kills 30 terrorists

By Mohamed Dhaysane

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AA) - The Somali National Army, backed by local militia forces, thwarted a major multi-pronged al-Shabaab terrorist attack in the strategic town of El-Dheer in the central province of Galgadud, killing over 30 terrorists on Friday, the Somali Defense Ministry said.

It said several al-Shabaab terrorists, including senior field commanders directly responsible for orchestrating violence against the locals, were captured during a fierce firefight in the early hours of Friday, according to a statement by the Defense Ministry.

During the fighting, six soldiers of the Somali National Army were also killed, while 14 others sustained minor injuries, the ministry said.

“The Somali National Armed Forces and local community forces are currently pursuing fleeing militants hiding in the outskirts of Ceel-Dheer district,” the statement added.

El-Dheer is a strategic town located 350 kilometers (217 miles) north of the national capital, Mogadishu.

The town is one of the strategically significant towns captured by the Somali army following the 2022-2023 offensive against al-Shabaab terrorists.

Al-Shabaab, which has waged an insurgency against the Somali government for over 16 years, regularly targets security forces, government officials, and civilians.