Three c were killed on Friday evening in an operation conducted by Somali forces in Awdinle town in the southern region of Bay, an official said on Saturday.
Ibrahim Mohamed Nour, governor of Awdinle town, told journalists that Somali forces launched an attack on al-Shabab extremists following a tip-off from the residents saying the militants were forcing Awdinle residents to pay compulsory taxes.
“The operation resulted in the killing of three al-Shabab militants and the capture of another one alive. Weapons and ammunitions were also recovered from the militants,” said Nour, adding that the captured militant is under the custody of government forces.
“We heard the sound of gun fight late Friday afternoon and later leant it was a clash between government forces and al-Shabab militants, but we can’t give further details,” Hassan Gelle, a local resident told Xinhua by phone.
The latest military offensive came barely a week after Somali army killed 15 al-Shabab militants in an offensive in Wanlaweyn town in Lower Shabelle region.
Somali forces have intensified operations on al-Shabab extremists in central and southern Somalia, conducting consecutive offensives to flush the militants out of those regions.
