More than 100 al-Shabaab terrorists killed in Somalia military operations

More than 100 al-Shabaab terrorists were killed and many others wounded when the Somali National Army (SNA) backed by locals and international security partners carried out operations against the group in the central province of Galgadud, the country's defense minister said Saturday.

The terrorist group was targeted in the vicinity of Bida Isse and Geriile under the newly liberated town of Eeldheer in Galmudug.

Defense Minister Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur told a press conference in the capital Mogadishu that current operations involve both ground and air strikes aimed at dismantling the militant group's infrastructure.

“At the national level, the SNA is conducting targeted missions to further weaken Al-Shabaab's strongholds and leadership,” he said.

On the African Union peacekeeping mission in Somalia, he said next year, a new operation “will be launched to replace ATMIS, and Ethiopian forces will not participate unless they withdraw their false agreements.”

He also hailed the launch of Türkiye's seismic research vessel Oruc Reis to Somalia, saying the move is part of implementation of a defense and economic pact between Somalia and Türkiye signed earlier this year.