MOGADISHU, Somalia – Somali National Army (SNA) backed by southwestern state forces killed five al-Shabab militants on Saturday in a joint operation in Dinsor, a town in the south of the Bay, an official said.
The forces launched an attack on bases operated by the militants in the city following complaints from locals, said Shine Mayow, commander of southwestern state forces in Dinsor.
“The extremists isolated the locals in Dinsor and blocked all roads leading to the city. Our forces later conducted an operation to help the residents. “We killed five militants during a confrontation between the army and the extremists,” Mayow said.
He added that the army had managed to drive the militants out of the city.
Government forces have intensified operations against al-Shabab extremists in southern regions in recent months, but the militants are still hiding in rural areas in those regions, leading ambushes and planting landmines.
