Al-Shabaab hit hard as army seizes key central Somali town
MOGADISHU, Somalia – Somali national army [SNA] on Tuesday recaptured the town of Ba’adweyn from al-Shabaab militants, more than four months after the region was captured by the al-Qaida-linked group, which controls large swathes of rural central and southern parts of the country. Somalia.
Al-Shabaab has used the strategic city to unleash terror against innocent civilians, security forces and senior government officials. The city is an important supply route for the country, especially in the Mudug region.
Military officials said the town fell to government forces in the early hours of Tuesday, with several surrounding villages also being restored by the military. SNA troops have been carrying out operations across the country for months.
“The Somali National Army and Galmudug regional forces from Darwish took control of the town of Ba’adweyn and its surroundings in the early hours of Tuesday, military officials confirmed,” state media reported.
Besides Ba’adweyn, the military has also managed to capture several towns in Middle and Lower Juba, showing its capabilities ahead of the full implementation of the Somali transition plan. [STP] which will see foreign troops leave Somalia.
Moments after Ba’adweyn was captured, SNA troops captured the villages of Harardhere and Imaamd in southern Mudug in Galmadug state. During the operation, the terrorists managed to escape from their hiding places.
“Troops of the 21st Division of the Somali National Army captured Hareerdhere and Imaamd, the stronghold villages of Al-Shabab in the southern Mudug region. The terrorists had fled before the army arrived. comes as the SNA took full control of the town of Ba’adweyn on Tuesday morning, “state media added.
Last week, a top al-Shabab commander, Mohamed Abdi Suubiye “Toosoow”, was among 16 militants killed in a separate operation in southern and central Somalia, military sources said.
He was killed last Saturday after trying to resist the army in Darussalam near Adan Yabaal in the Middle Shabelle region, senior army officers told Garowe Online. His death has been called “critical” in the Al-Shabaab war.
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