MOGADISHU, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- At least 12 al-Shabab militants were killed and several others injured after an airstrike hit al-Shabab militants meeting in Sakow town in Middle Jubba region in southern Somalia, officials said Wednesday.
Adam Isak Ali, deputy minister of information of Somalia, told state-owned Somali News Agency that international partners carried out successful airstrike overnight in Sakow, al-Shabab's major stronghold.
"We have report that more than 12 al-Shabab militants were killed and several others injured in an airstrike in Sakow town in middle Jubba region, about 37 militants were having a meeting when we carried out the attack there," Ali said.
He said senior al-Shabab militant commanders were among those targeted in the attack, saying former group's chief for Kismayo town in lower Jubba, Hassan Yacqub was among those injured in the attack.
Independent sources confirmed the attack on al-Shabab militants in Sakow town, saying at least three children were killed in a school.
A resident in Sakow town told Xinhua by phone that the warplane dropped four shells into the center of the town near the Jubba River there.
"I cannot tell you the number of casualties in the airstrike here because I did not get out of my home since this morning, but shells were four that created big fear," said the resident who asked for anonymity.
