The Somali National Army (SNA) says it’s killed almost 50 Islamist militants in a reprisal raid in the centre of the country.
In a post on social media, the military said it had targeted a farm in the Middle Shebelle region, where al-Shabab fighters had moved after they’d attacked a Somali army base on Tuesday.
The SNA said Thursday’s raid had been supported by its international partners and local militia.
Over the past year, government forces have driven al-Shabab from some of their heartlands.
Having recovered swathes of territory in the centre, correspondents say the military may now be preparing to strike against al-Shabab in the south.
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud made the fight against the militants a key pledge in last year’s successful election campaign.
