More than 60 militants belonging to the al-Shabaab group were killed in a joint operation by the Somali National Army and its international partners in the village of Hilow Bacaad, eight kilometers southwest of Halgan in the Hiiraan region.
The operation, which began early on Sunday and is still underway, also destroyed several terrorist bases and weapons in the area, according to a statement by an army official taking part in the operation.
The operation is part of a larger campaign to liberate the Hiiraan region from the al-Shabaab insurgency, which has been waging a violent war against the Somali government and its allies for over a decade.
The Somali National Army and its partners have vowed to continue their offensive until they eliminate the threat of al-Shabaab and restore peace and stability in the country.
