BAIDOA, Somalia — Somalia’s elite Danab special forces killed 14 Al-Shabaab fighters during an overnight operation in the Buula Fulaay area of Bay region, the Defence Ministry and military authorities said.
The forces also destroyed a hideout used by the Islamist militant group, the authorities said, without providing further details on the operation or the weapons seized.
The raid was part of ongoing military operations aimed at weakening Al-Shabaab, disrupting its activities and improving security in areas where the group remains active, the ministry said.
The Defence Ministry and Somali National Army praised the troops involved, saying operations against Al-Shabaab would continue until lasting peace and security were achieved across the country.
Al-Shabaab, which has been fighting Somalia’s federal government for more than a decade, remains capable of carrying out deadly attacks despite sustained military operations by Somali forces and international partners.
The group maintains a presence in parts of southern and central Somalia, including Bay region, where government forces have conducted repeated operations against its positions.
The military’s account of the casualties could not be independently verified. There was no immediate statement from Al-Shabaab on the reported deaths.
