Thursday February 16, 2023
Mogadishu (HOL) - The Somali government announced on Thursday that SNA forces killed over 200 Al-Shabaab militants in a battle in the Iji area of Hiiran, which is located 23 km north of Mahaday town in the Middle Shabelle region.
According to Abdirahman Yusuf Aladdala, the Deputy Minister of Information in Somalia, several senior leaders of Al-Shabaab, including Salad Mohamud Siyad, also known as Sakawad, who led the militant insurgency group in the Middle Shabelle region, and his deputy, Hussein Dhere, were killed in the battle. Yusuf Ali Sheikh, who was in charge of Al-Shabaab in the Fidow area of the Middle Shabelle region, and Sandheere, known as Hizbada, were also among those killed.
Aladdala added that prisoners with serious injuries, a large number of weapons totalling 300, and medicine and food were seized. In the last few hours, operations against Al Shabaab have taken place in Galmudug, Hirshabeelle, and Jubbaland, according to the Minister.