MOGADISHU, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- Somali National Army (SNA) troops killed 30 al-Shabab terrorists in an operation conducted in the Galgaduud region in central Somalia Wednesday, a government official confirmed.
Abdullahi Ali Anod, the Ministry of Defense spokesman, told a news conference held Wednesday evening in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia, that the military operation took place in the Galhareri district, where the terrorists were engaged in an armed clash with the government forces.
Ali said the sting military operation inflicted injuries on the militants who have engaged the government forces in near-daily attacks.
"The successful operation against al-Shabab reflects a resolute determination to counteract the threat posed by extremist groups," said a Somali News Agency report, citing him as saying.
Ali said Wednesday's operation signifies significant progress toward restoring peace and stability to the Galgaduud region, which has long been beset by terrorism.
The government forces backed by foreign partners have recently stepped up military operations to flush out al-Shabab militants from their strongholds to stop extortion of the Somali people and the spread of propaganda, intimidation and extremism in the country.
The al-Shabab extremist group was driven out of Mogadishu in 2011, but the militants are still hiding in the rural areas of those regions conducting ambushes and planting landmines. ■
