30 al-Shabaab terrorists killed in Somalia: Information Ministry

By Mohamed Dhaysane

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AA) – The Information Ministry said Wednesday that more than 30 al-Shabaab terrorists were killed after the Somali national army, backed by international security partners, launched an operation against the terror group in the northcentral province of Mudug.

The operation was focused in the vicinity of Arfuda on the outskirts of the recently liberated coastal town of Haradhere in the state of Galmudug.

“The operation targeted two areas, one is a place where the Khawarij militia was organizing for an attack and a center where they were preparing explosions,” the agency said in a statement.

Khawarij is a term the government uses to describe the al-Qaeda-affiliated terror group.

It said the national force and “international friends succeeded in destroying all the terrorist fighting vehicles and military equipment.”

A separate statement by the Defense Ministry said al-Shabaab terrorists were targeted in an airstrike near the town of Ruun Nirgood in the Middle Shabelle region.

“The operation targeted and eliminated key Al-Shabaab ring leaders and militias, furthering our mission to liberate areas in east Galgaduud and central M. Shabelle,” it said.

Somalia has been plagued by insecurity for years, with the main threats emanating from al-Shabaab and the Daesh/ISIS terror groups.

Since 2007, al-Shabaab has been fighting the Somali government and the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) -- a multidimensional mission authorized by the African Union and mandated by the UN Security Council.

The terror group has stepped up attacks since President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud declared an "all-out war" against the group.