Somali special forces kill 14 al-Shabaab terrorists in south

​​​​​​​By Mevlut Ozkan

ISTANBUL (AA) - The Somali army’s Danab special forces killed 14 al-Shabaab terrorists and injured one on Tuesday, prompting others to flee, according to the Information Ministry.

The special forces, coordinating with Jubaland State security forces, carried out a targeted operation against the terrorists near Jamaame in the Lower Juba region, the ministry said in a statement on US social media company X.

Earlier Tuesday, the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) said it killed a senior al-Shabaab leader in a security operation.

Terrorist leader Mohamed Sahal Idle, known by his alias Abu Usaama, was killed in an operation conducted in collaboration with international partners near the town of Sakow in the al-Shabaab-held region of Middle Juba.

The al-Qaeda-affiliated terror group has been engaged in an insurgency against the Somali government for more than 16 years, frequently targeting security forces, officials and civilians.

Since last July, the Somali army, with the support of the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) and other international partners, has stepped up operations against al-Shabaab.

The African Union’s mission mandate was renewed by the UN Security Council in December for another year, with a UK-backed resolution extending its authorization until Dec. 31.