Somali Security Forces killed 44 Al-Shabaab terrorist militants including senior commanders after conducting a special operation at Ali Fuuto location near Kurtowarey district in lower Shabelle region, SONNA reported Saturday.

Deputy Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism, Abdirahman Yusuf Adala told Somali National News Agency that forces of the National Intelligence and Security Agency and International Partners jointly carried out the operation against the terrorists.

‘Our Intelligence, NISA and International Partners destroyed the terrorist strong-holds where they were regrouping at the time of the special operation’, Adala said.

He added that the Somali Government is committed to eradicating the terrorists’ hide-outs in lower Shabelle and the rest of the country.

The operation comes days before the Government plans to launch the second phase of the total war on the group fighters in the southwest and southern parts of the country.

Somali National Army backed by regional forces and International Partners killed over 3,000 terrorist militant group of Al-Shabaab in Middle Shabelle, Hiiraan, Mudug, lower Shabelle and Jubba region during operations in the past 7 months.

Source: Somali National News Agency