MOGADISHU, June 26 (Xinhua) -- Somali National Army (SNA) on Thursday killed a senior foreign al-Shabab leader in an offensive in Sakow town in the southern region of Middle Juba, a military officer confirmed.
Isma'il Abdi Malik Malin, commander of SNA's 16th Unit told journalists in Mogadishu on Friday that a Nepalese, Ahsraf Azmi Abu Hamda used to use the fighters of the extremist group to carry out attacks in the Horn of African nation.
Malin told reporters that the forces conducted the operation following intelligence of the militants' presence in the area. He said three other fighters were also killed during the military operation in the Middle Juba region.
The Somali commander added that the forces will intensify the operations aimed at flushing out the militants who have been fighting to topple the internationally-backed government.
The latest offensive came barely hours after the soldiers killed six al-Shabab militants in another operation in the outskirts of Jamame and Kismayo towns.
The government forces have stepped up operations against al-Shabab extremists in southern regions in recent months, but the militants still control swathes of rural areas conducting ambushes and planting land mines. Enditem
