Friday August 7, 2020
Somali National Army soldiers march during the 57th Anniversary of the Somali National Army held at the Ministry of defence in Mogadishu on April 12, 2017. Image: Ilyas Ahmed/AMISOM
MOGADISHU (Xinhua) -- Somali National Army (SNA) on Wednesday killed 17 al-Shabab militants and injured 23 others in a fierce fight in the outskirts of Baidoa town in the southern region of Bay, a military officer confirmed on Thursday.
Mohamed Abdullahi, commander of SNA's 60th Unit told journalists that al-Shabab militants launched an attack on a base run by Somali army in Daynunay village, but the forces repulsed them.
"The militants' attempt to overrun the base was foiled as the army fought them bravely killing 17 of them including three senior officials and injuring 23 others," Abdullahi said.
He added that four government soldiers including a senior official were killed during the fierce fight between the army and the militants.
Locals told Xinhua that the town witnessed intense clashes between government forces and al-Shabab militants which caused casualties on both the warring sides and the residents.
The latest fight came barely four days after Somali National Army (SNA) killed five al-Shabab militants including a senior official in an operation in Jamame town in the southern region of Lower Juba.
Government forces have intensified operations against al-Shabab extremists in the southern regions in recent days, but the militants are still hiding in the rural areas of those regions and are conducting ambushes and planting landmines.