...KABOOM!...
s on Saturday, officials said, targeting al-Shabaab
... Somalia's version of the Taliban, functioning as an arm of al-Qaeda...
forces of Evil in central regions where the group has been wreaking havoc on innocent civilians.
The operation, officials noted, targeted the Ali Hayle neighborhood along the border of the Middle Shabelle and Galgaduud regions. For the last 15 months, Somali forces and their foreign counterparts have been conducting a series of operations in central Somalia.
According to the state media, the airstrikes on Saturday were the third within a short period, signaling commitment by the soldiers to stabilize Somalia, a country that has been in shambles for the last three decades after the eruption of the civil war.
"Somali security forces and International allies carry out a planned operation in Ali Hayle, near the border of Middle Shabelle and Galgaduud regions. A vehicle belonging to the terrorist militia was destroyed in the operation on Saturday evening," state media reports.
"This is the third successful strike in the last few hours, following two other operations in Buq-aqable and Galhareeri," the state-owned media added in the report, noting successes achieved within a short period in the region.
Al-Shabaab forces of Evil have been losing ground in central Somalia and southern parts according to official government reports, with the second phase of operations against the forces of Evil set to kick off in Jubaland and Southwest states of the country.
A car carrying Al-Shabaab fighters was destroyed in an operation in the Ali Hayle area. The targeted militants include senior Al-Shabaab leaders, according to the government.
In a statement issued by the government, it was said that in the past hours, the air operations targeting the Al-Shabaab group have increased. The government said that many militants and leaders of the Al-Shabaab group have been killed.
The US government has not yet commented on these airstrikes targeting the Al-Shabaab group.