MOGADISHU: Somali security forces killed 17 al-Shabab terrorists and injured many others during security operations in the southern area on Wednesday, authorities announced on Thursday.

The Somalia National Army (SNA) reported to Radio Mogadishu that its special forces, Danab, destroyed nine al-Shabab hideouts in the southern and southwestern provinces during the security operation.

“Seventeen al-Shabab terrorists were killed and nine of their hideouts destroyed in special security operations carried out by SNA commanders in Somalia’s Jubaland and Southwest states in the past 24 hours,” the radio stated.

Government troops have ramped up operations against al-Shabab, which has been accused of intermittent attacks on African Union and government targets, including public locations in Mogadishu and other parts of the nation.

The increased operation comes ahead of the long-delayed presidential elections scheduled for Sunday in Mogadishu, the capital.

Al-Shabab extremists opposed to the ongoing voting process have launched a series of attacks against delegates in an attempt to sabotage the process.

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