Joint Somali special forces, backed by foreign troops, are reported to have killed at least 40 members of the al-Qaeda-allied al-Shabab militant group in recent operations involving ground and air strikes in Somalia’s Lower Jubba region.
Somali state media say the operations took place in Welmarow village near Afmadow town.
The state-run Somali National News Agency said the army seized Welmarow village and Hagar town after destroying al-Shabab hideouts and a weapons depot.
However, pro al-Shabab media report the group has regained control of Hagar town.
According to Kenya’s Star newspaper, Kenyan forces that are part of the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (Atmis) took part in the operations.
Al-Shabab controls swathes of Lower Jubba and the entire Middle Jubba region in southern Somalia.
In August 2022, the Somali federal government announced that it had launched a major offensive to recapture territory from al-Shabab.