Somali forces backed by local clan militias have recaptured Dahar-Faqay village in the Galgaduud region.
According to the country’s defence ministry, the joint forces launched operations against al-Shabaab fighters in central Somalia.
The operations are meant to liberate all areas under al-Shabaab, an al-Qaeda-affiliated group which has been fighting the Somali government.
In Sunday’s clashes with al-Shabaab fighters, Somali forces claimed to have killed a senior al-Shabaab leader identified as Ilka-ase.
Ilka-ase was said to be the group’s leader in charge of the Galgaduud region.
The development comes hours after the joint forces seized Budbud village in the Galgaduud region.
The forces also killed at least four al-Shabaab fighters and wounded dozens of others.
“Our forces and the community forces succeeded in liberating Budbud village, a strategic village in the Galgadud region. Several al-Shabaab fighters were killed and others including senior al-Shabaab leaders were wounded,” the spokesperson of the Somali defence ministry, Gen. Abdullahi Anod.
Gen. Anod vowed that the joint forces will continue operations against al-Shabaab fighters in south-central Somalia until all areas under al-Shabaab control are liberated.
“The second phase of the operations against al-Shabaab commenced and we are committed to eradicating al-Shabaab fighters from these regions,” he said.
