Ali Mohamad Bag Madow, SNA commander for section 43, told journalists the militants were killed in a joint offensive by Somali national forces and the U.S. Africa Command (Africom) near a training camp used by the al-Qaeda-linked militants in Jilib, in Middle Jubba, southern Somalia. Madow said that the special forces carried out a joint operation with U.S. Africa Command, killing 30 al-Shabab militants among them two foreigners.

The two foreign militants killed were identified as Aways Abuhamza of Syria and Hasn Al-qayadi Abu Yahya from Libya. Residents in nearby towns said they heard huge blasts.