At least 40 Al-Shabaab militants killed in operations south of Somalia

At least 40 Al-Shabaab militants have been killed in a joint operation by the Somali National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) and international partners south of Somalia.

The operation took place on Tuesday near Nungare in the Afgoy district, Lower Shabelle region, according to NISA. The spy agency said foreign fighters were among the dead.

Although NISA did not mention which international partners took part in the operation, a number of countries are involved in providing support and training to the agency.

Despite massive victories by government and allied clan militias known as Macawiisley in liberating vast territories from Al-Shabaab particularly in Hirshabelle state, the terrorist group is still active in some pockets of the regional state and has frequently launched counterattacks mainly in form of suicide bombings.

In his recent remarks during a televised question and answer session, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud announced that the first phase of the anti-terror offensives, which covers the states of Hirshabelle and Galmudug, has entered its “final stages” promising to soon launch the second phase.

He hailed the Somali forces and allied local clans, known as Macawiisley, for dealing “significant blows to Al-Shabaab in Hirshabelle and Galmudug” in what was the first phase of the offensive.

He also noted that the next phase of the offensive, which is poised to start in the coming weeks, “will focus on Jubbaland and Southwest states.”