The Somali National Army (SNA) said its forces took over several bases which were under al-Shabab areas during early Wednesday operations in Galgaduud, in the central part of Somalia.

The SNA Infantry commander, Mohamed Tahlil Bihi, said the 21st Division of SNA captured new bases in areas that used to be al-Shabab strongholds and inflicted heavy casualties on the militants.

“The bases were completely destroyed and terrorists suffered huge casualties,” Mr Tahlil told the state-owned Somalia National Television in Mogadishu.

The latest move comes after the SNA liberated Sinadhaqqo and Labi Dulle areas during operations conducted last week in Galgaduud in which dozens of terrorists were killed and weapons recovered.

Mr Tahlil said the extremists were planning to carry out terror attacks in those regions, vowing that the troops would intensify operations against al-Shabab extremists in southern and central regions to liberate more regions.

The al-Shabab was routed from Mogadishu in 2011 by the 22,000-strong African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and has had to abandon most of its strongholds, but it still controls vast rural areas and remains the key threat to peace in Somalia and also carries out attacks in neighbouring Kenya.