Somali forces kill 10 Al-Shabaab suspects

Saturday, March 19, 2016

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At least ten members of the Islamist militant group Al-Shabaab were killed and several others wounded at Suuj neighborhood in Nugal region on Saturday after heavy fighting between Puntland forces and Al-Shabaab in northern Somalia, officials said.

Puntland Army officials at frontlines said on Saturday they have made progress on the fight against Al-Shabaab in the region as they try to avoid losses of their troops.

"We killed ten Al-Shabaab fighters whom we have seen their dead bodies. There is no casualty on our side. We are making progress on the ongoing war with terrorist militants. We also try to minimize the risks of losses on our forces here," Muse added.

The officials said Puntland forces are stronger than Al-Shabaab and will be able to finalize the combat, without any help from the Mogadishu-based central government of Somalia.

The Somali government was expected to send two aircraft with weapons to Puntland administration as clash with Al-Shabaab fighters intensified in some parts of Nugal and Mudug regions.

Two planes carrying weapons consignment left from the capital Mogadishu to Garowe, the administrative capital of Puntland, and the government will also send forces from Somali National Army to the region to fight Al-Shabaab.

"The Government of Somalia is sending two planes of weapons to Puntland State as they are fighting with terrorist group which fled from south and central Somalia," Minister of Information of Somalia Mohamed Abdi Hayer said.

The military consignment given to Puntland State came after days of heavy fighting between Puntland forces and Al-Shabaab militants in some areas in Mudbug and Nugal regions under Puntland Administration in north Somalia.

Al-Shabaab militants claim their fighters are expanding in large areas in Nugal and Bari regions in north Somalia.

The deployment of military support to Puntland follows three days of clashes between Puntland forces and Al-Shabaab militants, who briefly seized the coastal town of Gara'ad on Tuesday before they were kicked out by Puntland troops.

Puntland indicated on Wednesday it had killed more than 20 Al-Shabaab fighters, who are believably associated with Islamic State of the Levant and Iraq.

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