Somali forces arrest 10 Al-Shabaab suspects

At least 10 suspected Al-Shabaab were captured in a security operation by Somali National Army (SNA) backed AMISOM forces in Beled Amin village of Lower Shabelle region of Somalia, officials said Sunday.

Minister of Information Mohamed Abdi Hayer told reporters that Somali forces had targeted the militants during the operation conducted on Saturday night.

“Our national army, accompanied by AMISOM conducted operations and recaptured four Al-Shabaab bases, including an illegal detention center and administrative building in Beled Amin, Lower Shabelle region of Somalia,” Hayer said.

“The security operation resulted in our security forces arresting nearly 10 suspected al-Shabaab terrorists,” Hayir added.

He noted that the security forces will continue their operation in order to eliminate the threat posed by terrorists groups in Somalia.

He called on residents to provide information that could lead to the possible arrest of more terror suspects to enable security officers to improve security.

The Somali forces and the African peacekeeping troops conducted such operations in several other areas in around Mogadishu on Saturday night.

The Somali forces backed by the Africa Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) troops have increased operations to flush out insurgents from the restive Mogadishu and its environs.

Somali and AU forces flushed out Al-Shabaab fighters from Mogadishu in 2011, but the group still carried out deadly attacks in the Horn of Africa nation.

Somali National Army backed by the African Union Peacekeeping Forces removed Al-Shabaab from the capital Mogadishu in 2011, but the group often carries out deadly attacks against government and AU headquarters including social gatherings like hotels and restaurants in the town.