MOGADISHU, July 24 (Xinhua) -- Somali National Army (SNA) alongside its allied forces on Tuesday intensified military operation against al-Shabab militants in southern region, capturing three areas near the port town of Kismayo.
Mukhtar Abdi Mohamed, SNA commander in the area, said that two al-Shabab militants were killed and three others injured during the operation.
"We have successfully liberated three areas including Arare location that were under al-Shabab militants before," Mohamed said.
He said that the operation is aimed at liberating more key areas still under the militant group which has engaged the Somali government in near daily attacks, adding that the operation will continue until SNA and Jubaland State forces manage to secure the whole region.
Independent sources said the SNA and the allied forces are conducting joint operations in the areas around Kismayo port city which was one of the strongholds of al-Shabab, serving as its main revenue source before the insurgents were forced out by Kenyan forces in 2012.
The heightened operation came a day after the insurgents carried out suicide car bombing on the SNA military base in Bar-Sanguni, a small town north of Kismayo city, killing four soldiers on Monday.
The SNA said it repulsed the attack and killed 87 al-Shabab militants who had attempted to raid the military base.
The terrorist group, which claimed responsibility for the dawn attack on the military base, said its fighters killed 27 Somali soldiers and later took control of the base.
Locals said tension is still high following Monday's attack, as the joint forces intensify counter-offensive against the militants, who have been trying to regain control of the areas near Kismayo.
The insurgents have not commented on the later assault by the joint forces in the region, but the group's affiliated websites displayed photos showing Bar-Sanguni army base where fighting between Somali forces and the group fighters happened on Monday.
