Somalia: 70 al-Shabab members killed in military operation

At least 70 members of the al-Shabab rebel movement were killed and 30 wounded in a military operation in the Mudug region of northern Somalia.

The operation took place near the locality of Tabar-mooge, some 28 kilometers north of the coastal town of Harardhere, recently liberated by government forces.

A statement issued by the Ministry of Information said the operation was carried out by the national army and its international partners.

Somalia has been plagued by insecurity for years, with the main threats coming from the al-Shabab movement and terrorist groups affiliated to Daech.

Since 2007, al-Shabab has been fighting the Somali government and the African Union Transitional Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), a multidimensional mission authorized by the African Union and mandated by the United Nations Security Council.

The rebel movement has stepped up its attacks since Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud declared an “all-out war” against it.