MOGADISHU, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- The Somali National Army said Friday that its forces killed eight al-Shabab terrorists including one of the group's leaders in an airstrike in the southwestern region of Bakool.
The Ministry of Defence said Isaaq Abdullahi and his seven bodyguards were killed in a targeted airstrike in Wajid District as they planned to carry out attacks in the area.
"Isaaq, who was wanted for committing atrocities, is no more," the ministry said in a brief statement confirming the death of the al-Shabab leader.
Somalia has grappled with persistent terrorism for many years, primarily stemming from the threat posed by al-Shabab, which has frequently launched attacks on government forces. Despite these challenges, the Somali army, bolstered by local militias and international allies, has launched a sustained offensive against al-Shabab since last year, when President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud declared an "all-out war" against the terrorist group. ■
