Somalia’s defence ministry said on Tuesday that its armed forces and regional security forces had killed 27 al Shabaab militants in the semi-autonomous Jubbaland state in an operation with international support. The defence ministry statement did not name the international partners that provided support but said its operation was backed by air strikes. The U.S. military has conducted air strikes to help in the fight against al Shabaab, which has waged an insurgency for two decades to try to topple the Horn of Africa country’s central government and establish its own rule based on its strict interpretation of sharia law. The defence ministry said the militants were killed in “a large-scale operation in areas of Lower Jubba and Middle Jubba,” adding that weapons and landmines had also been seized.

Full report : Somalia says it killed 27 al Shabaab militants with international support.