MOGADISHU, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- The Somali National Army (SNA), backed by international partners, killed 15 al-Shabab extremists and injured 20 others on Thursday in an offensive in the southern region of Lower Juba, a military official said on Friday.
Mohamed Hassan Badal, commander of SNA Unit 43, said al-Shabab fighters were killed in a joint offensive conducted by government forces and partner forces in the outskirts of Jamame town.
"We were conducting the operation for two consecutive days and our forces have driven the militants out of Bangeni town," he said. "Now they are fighting in the outskirt of Jamame town and we are advancing there."
"The army inflicted severe casualties on the militants during the offensive, resulting in 15 dead and 20 others injured," Badal said.
On Wednesday, the Somali army killed five al-Shabab extremists in Qoryoley, a town in the country's southern region of Lower Shabelle.
The southern regions of Somalia have witnessed clashes between government forces and al-Shabab extremists. The militants were pushed out of the capital, Mogadishu, in August 2011 by the Somali army and African Union forces.
