MOGADISHU, Aug. 16 (Xinhua) -- Somalia's National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) backed by the international partners killed eight al-Shabaab militants, including three senior commanders, in a targeted operation on Sunday in the central region.
According to a statement released by NISA, the joint operation took place in the Tardo area of the Hiran region and eliminated three high-ranking leaders along with five guarding militiamen, while leaving four others wounded.
"The counter-terrorism operation successfully neutralized high-value targets responsible for regional operational leadership, including the head of eastern Hiran's extortion network and commanders of both the Jabhada militia and the Fursan wing," The security agency said in a statement issued in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia.
The joint operations have led to the recapture of several al-Shabaab positions and the destruction of key hideouts and storage facilities, as troops actively pursue remaining fighters. ■
