Airstrikes in Somalia kill 54 al-Shabaab terrorists

The Somali Defense Ministry said Wednesday that new airstrikes targeting the al-Qaeda-affiliated group, al-Shabaab, killed 54 terrorists and wounded several others.

It said in a statement that the operations, which took place in the Hiran, Lower Shabelle, Bay and Lower Jubba regions, also destroyed key “enemy” positions.

The positions had been under the government’s close surveillance following observed terror activity in recent days, it said.

The air raids also hit the terror supply stockpiles, “significantly weakening the group’s logistical capacity, mobility and ability to organise attacks against Somali civilians.”

The statement came one day after the national army, backed by regional security forces, carried out a “large-scale operation” in southern provinces, killing 27 al-Shabaab terrorists, including key members of the group.

Al-Shabab has waged an insurgency against the Somali government for more than 16 years, frequently targeting security forces, officials and civilians.

Since last July, Somali forces, backed by the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia and other partners, have intensified operations against the group in support of the federal government.

The mission’s mandate was renewed for another year by the UN Security Council in December under a UK-backed resolution extending authorization through Dec. 31.