Somalia says kills 30 al-Shabab militants

The Somali National Army (SNA) on Sunday killed 30 al-Shabab militants, including two foreign nationals, in the southern town of Jilib, an official said.

Ali Mohamad Bag Madow, SNA commander for section 43, told journalists the militants were killed in a joint offensive by Somali national forces and the U.S. Africa Command (Africom) near a training camp used by the al-Qaeda-linked militants in Jilib, in Middle Jubba, southern Somalia.

“Our special forces carried out a joint operation with U.S. Africa Command, killing 30 al-Shabab militants among them two foreigners,” Madow said.

The two foreign militants killed were identified as Aways Abuhamza of Syria and Hasn Al-qayadi Abu Yahya from Libya.

Residents in nearby towns said they heard huge blasts.

“We heard blasts in Jilib town but we do not have additional details on the final outcome,” Abdirazak Gedi, a local resident, told Xinhua.