Somali air strike in the battle with young people

The government says that the United States and Somalia carried out an air strike against Islamic militants during a battle to control the strategic central city.

The “well -coordinated” strike came on Adan Yabaal, north of the capital, Mogadishu, hours after the city’s youth was used as a major launch of military operations.

Of the 12 fighters who were killed in the air strike, there were many major fighters from the al -Qaeda group, the Somali Ministry of Information. He said in a statement about x.

The last fighting comes amid fears of the jihadist recovery in Somalia after increasing attacks, including the attacks that targeted the convoy of President Hassan Sheikh Mahmoud last month.

The young man, who controls large parts of southern and central Somalia, has been fighting the government for nearly 20 years. It seeks to overthrow the federal government and establish an Islamic state.

The African Union’s peacekeeping force helped push jihadists to defend in 2022 and 2023, but the group is still a major threat despite many military operations against it.

The Somali government insists on weakening the group.

The Ministry of Information said that the air strike late Wednesday by the Somali Armed Forces and the US African Command (Africom) “aims to neutralize the threat posed by” gunmen. ”

“The targeted strike has struck a position used by gunmen as a gathering and hidden,” adding: “It is important that there were no civil losses.”

Eddan Yabal, in the Central Shapel region, was acquired by young people in 2016 before being restored by government forces in 2022.

Heavy fighting erupted early on Wednesday after youth fighters raided the city, using heavy explosives.

Later, the group said it acquired the city. Two local populations told Agence France -Presse news agency that the gunmen had taken control of Eddan Yabal.

The government did not say who was currently controlling the city.

President Hassan Mahmoud visited the city last month and met the military leaders, which stressed its strategic importance in combating the militants.

The ministry said in a separate incident, the National Army said it had killed at least 35 fighters near the city of Bidoa on Thursday, after they tried to attack an army base there.

President Mahmoud reduced the progress in the youth, saying that the refractions of the cross -battle arena were inevitable. He confirmed that his government is determined to defeat the militants.