Friday May 31, 2024
Mogadishu (HOL) - The Somali Ministry of Defense announced
on Thursday that military forces destroyed al-Shabab bases used for recruiting
children following a week-long operation in the Southwest, Hirshabelle, and
Galmudug regional states.
The Ministry of Defense spokesperson, Abukar Mohamed Hassan,
stated that last week, the army conducted operations in the Middle Shabelle,
Hiraan, Galgadud, Bay, and Bakool regions. During these operations, government
forces inflicted heavy losses on the group and destroyed shelters used to
organize attacks.
"The army has destroyed places where al-Shabab used to
gather children and people from the countryside to extort bribes," said
Abukar Mohamed Hassan.
However, the spokesperson did not provide the official
number of al-Shabab members killed in last week's operations.