The Somali government said on Thursday that more than 200 members of the Khawarij Al-Shabaab group were killed in a battle in the Iji area of the Middle Shabelle region.
The Deputy Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism of the Government of Somalia, who held a press conference in Mogadishu, reported on this operation in collaboration with the country’s armed forces, local forces, NISA and international friends.
“In the last few hours, operations against the Khawarij Al-Shabaab group took place in Galmudug, Hirshabelle and Jubbaland, and the largest number of this group was targeted in the Iji area, which is 23 km from the city of Mahaday in the Middle Shabelle region, and hundreds were killed.” Minister Abdirahman Yusuf Al-Adala said in his press conference.
Also, the Minister mentioned that the leaders of Khawaarijta, who are responsible for the collection of money, theft of local animals and planned killings, were killed in this operation.
“The leaders who were killed in this operation are: Salah Mohamud Siyad who was responsible of collecting money in the Middle Shabelle region and was well known to the local people. Yusuf Ali Sheikh who was the head of the city of Fidow and Sandher who was the commander of that area,” said Minister Adala, who added that there was a fourth leader named Hussein Dhere, who was the deputy of Salad Mohamud Siad.
The minister said that in this operation, militants were arrested with serious injuries, who are being treated for their health conditions. The army also seized 300 guns, including heavy and light ones, while the army confiscated medicines, food and other materials. used by the Khawarij.
On the other hand, an operation that took place in the village of Afad in Hiran region killed a number of Khawarij, while the operation is still going on.
Finally, during the operation, 5 soldiers were killed and 7 soldiers were injured.
