Somali Troops, Al-Shabaab Clash In Lower Jubba Region

Somali security forces on Thursday night killed 8 militants in southern Somali, officials said on Friday.

According to a spokesman from the Somali security ministry and internal affairs of Jubbaland, the militants were killed in a joint offensive launched by Jubbaland and the Somali Special Forces in Jamame town in Somalia’s southern region of Lower Juba.

“Our forces inflicted heavy casualties on the militants in the operation,” the spokesman said, adding that the security forces destroyed the militants’ base in Jamame town where the militants used to plan attacks on government forces.

Local residents confirmed that there was a confrontation in the town.

“Government forces launched an attack on the extremists’ hideout. There was heavy fighting and the militants fled the town,” Yahye Ahmed, a local resident told Xinhua by phone.

Recently, Somali forces backed by African Union Mission in Somalia have stepped up operations on al-Qaida affiliated extremists in some central and southern regions.

About three weeks ago, Somali forces killed three al-Shabab militants in an operation in the country’s southern region of Gedo.