Somali National Army (SNA) soldiers have been warned against targeting the wives and children of Al-Shabaab fighters.
Brigadier General Abdullahi Ali Aanood, the spokesperson of the Ministry of Defense, issued the directive to the government soldiers this week.
According to the military spokesperson, the ongoing operation against terrorism would target Al-Shabaab fighters only.
He said that any soldier who kills non-combatant relatives of Al-Shabaab members would be committing illegality.
Further, he added that the warning the ministry issued also applies to any non-combatant relative of an enemy of Somalia.
Brig. Gen. Aanood added that any terrorist or enemy of the country who surrenders would be welcomed and not killed or harassed.
His statement comes in the wake of the recent call by Hiiraan Governor Ali Jeyte for security forces to target family members of Al-Shabaab fighters in reprisal attacks.