SNA kills 7 al-Shabaab militants in Bay region

 At least seven Al-Shabaab militants were killed on Tuesday by the Somali National Army (SNA) during a security operation in the country’s southwestern Bay region, officials said.

Amin Mohamed Darur, South West State Police Commander in Baidoa, told reporters that SNA and Southwest State forces targeted Al-Shabaab militants in Seydhelow, just north of the regional capital of Baidoa. Locals tipped off security forces that the Al-Qaeda-linked militants were hiding in the area.

“SNA and the South West State forces killed seven al-Shabab terrorists and injured several others in an area about 35 kilometres north of Baidoa town in Bay region this morning. The operation was very successful,” said Darur.

Somali security forces are battling Al-Shabaab militants who retain control and influence in south and central Somalia’s large swaths.