Somali, AU forces kill seven militants in central region

Somali National Army (SNA) backed by African Union Mission in Somalia (Amisom) on Thursday killed seven al-Shabab militants in an operation in Mahas town in the central region of Hiran, an official confirmed.

Moumin Mohamed, governor of Mahas, told SNA radio that the joint operation was conducted in Mahas and Mataban towns targeting al-Shabab fighters.

“Our forces attacked al-Shabab, there was a fierce clash, but we overpowered them, killing seven of them,” Mohamed said.

Al-Shabab militants were chased out of the capital Mogadishu in August 2011 by the Somali army and AMISOM forces, but they still control swathes of rural areas in central and southern regions, conducting ambushes and planting landmines.