Mogadishu(Mogadishu24)-Six people were killed and 12 others injured on Wednesday in a landmine explosion implanted on the road connecting Qoryoolay and Shallanbood districts.

The Governor of the Lower Shabelle region, Mohamed Ibrahim Barre confirmed the attack, describing it as a cowardly assault on innocent civilians. He stated that the victims were passengers travelling on a public bus.

Those injured in the explosion were taken to the Shallanbood District Hospital, where they are receiving treatments.

Al-Shabaab militants did not make any comment regarding to the landmine incident that claimed innocent lives.

This attack occurred just days after two Al-Shabaab militants lost their lives in a bomb explosion while attempting to plant it along the main supply route between KM50 and Lantabur areas in the Lower Shabelle region during the night.

As pressure mounts on Al-Shabaab due to the intensifying “Black Lion Operation,” the militants have increasingly targeted innocent civilians through landmine attacks.

“The Al-Shabaab have now resorted to emplacement of IEDs on main supply routes. This is a desperate move to delay the movement and supply of goods. The leadership of AS is now more worried as the second phase of Somali CONOPS by joint Forces of SNA and ATMIS is due to commence and will see decisive operations against them. This is meant to completely degrade AS and drive them out of their hideouts,” ATMIS spokesperson Abdullahi Ahmed Ganale said.