About 60 people killed in northeastern Somalia attack

File photo shows a group of Somalia's al- Shabab militants on foot patrol outside of Mogadishu.

Wednesday, January 7, 2015

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Almost 60 people have been killed during a weeklong battle between Somali security forces and the al-Shabab Takfiri militants in the northeastern part of the country, authorities say.

Fifty-four militants of the al-Qaeda-linked group were killed during fighting with Somali security forces in the autonomous state of Puntland, regional leader, Abdiweli Mohamed Ali, said on Tuesday.

The attack also left five soldiers dead and four others injured, the official added.

Forty-six militants were injured and several others arrested, he added.

The detainees include al-Shabab commanders, Mukhtar Abdinur Ahmed, also known as Ahmed Gurey, and Ahmed Abdi Mohamed.

Ali confirmed that the country’s “security forces… have conducted a series of clean-up operations against the remnants of al-Shabab members” in Galgala mountainous area.

Last week, Security forces in the Puntland region launched an offensive against al-Shabab’s strongholds in the Galgala mountainous area, 50 kilometers (31 miles) east of the port city of Bosaso.

Somalia has been the scene of deadly clashes between government forces and al-Shabab militants since 2006.

The Horn of Africa region has been plagued by wars, poverty and natural disasters including repeated droughts, famine and flooding.

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