The Somali National Army (SNA) reported on Monday that during an operation carried out on Sunday in the Bulaburte district of central Somalia, its forces killed more than 200 al-Shabab fighters.
The militants intended to barricade the road connecting Beledweyne and Bulaburde area and launch an attack, but the troops were alerted in time and prevented the attempt, according to the state-owned media.
“Their intention was to block the road between Bula-burde and Beledweyne towns.
“But they made a miscalculation, and ended up in the fire,” the Somali news agency reported.
The Somali forces backed by pro-government militia have liberated more than 40 villages and killed more than 500 al-Shabab militants in the past three weeks in operations in central Somalia.
The militant group has lost ground to the Somali government and African Union troops in recent months but still controls some territory in southern and central Somalia.