Somali Forces Kill Two Al-Shabaab Militants, Capture One in Bay Region Operation

GOOBJOOG NEWS | MOGADISHU: Somali government forces say they have killed two Al-Shabaab militants and captured another during a military operation targeting suspected fighters in the Bay region of southwestern Somalia.

The operation was carried out by Gorgor commandos in Hinshiloole, an area between Baidoa and Deynunay, where military officials said Al-Shabaab fighters had gathered.

According to officers involved in the operation, troops attacked the suspected militant position, killing two fighters and taking a third into custody.

The operation involved the 171st and 175th units of the 17th Brigade, part of the Somali National Army’s First Division, which has been conducting operations against Al-Shabaab in parts of Bay region.

Bay remains a key area in Somalia’s campaign against Al-Shabaab, with government forces seeking to restrict the group’s movements and strengthen security along routes connecting Baidoa with surrounding communities.

Al-Shabaab has maintained a presence in rural parts of southern and central Somalia despite years of military operations by Somali forces and their international partners.

The latest operation forms part of continuing efforts to weaken the group’s presence around Baidoa, a major administrative and commercial centre in southwestern Somalia.

The military did not report any casualties among government forces.