At least 16 al-Shabaab terrorists were killed in Somalia when troops broke off the attack

At least 16 al-Shabaab terrorists were killed in Somalia when troops broke off the attack

MOGADISHU – Somalia’s regional forces on Friday morning killed 16 al-Shabab terrorists in a deadly attack on the central city of Bahdo, officials said.

Military officials from Galmudug state told Somali National Army (SNA) Radio that the regional forces supported by the local residents fought bravely and repelled the attackers.

“The regional security forces of Galmudug state in Somalia and local residents have bravely repelled an attack by al-Shabab on the town of Bahdo on Friday morning, killing 16 al-Shabab terrorists,” SNA Radio reported.

Locals said the dead bodies of al-Shabab terrorists were scattered on the ground after the foiled attack.

Witnesses said al-Shabab launched its offensive by detonating several vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices targeting the village and security forces.

“However, the troops later joined hands with local residents and local Sufi militia to put up a strong resistance and foiled the attack,” said a local resident who declined to be named on the phone.

Somali government forces that have stepped up security operations across the country since the beginning of this year have vowed to maintain the assault on the militant group until their soldiers are subdued.

However, the terrorist group al-Shabab, which still controls parts of rural southern and central Somalia, continues to carry out high-profile attacks in Mogadishu and elsewhere in the country.