Somali army bombs Al-Shabaab hideouts, 17 dead confirmed
MOGADISHU, Somalia – In a rare operation, the Somali national army [SNA] on Tuesday launched an airstrike in Middle Shabelle as part of the ongoing operation to drive al-Shabaab militants out of the country, after decades of devastation among innocent civilians and government officials.
To seize security functions in the country, the national army has stepped up its operations against Al-Shabaab in the Middle and Lower Shabelle regions, confiscating sophisticated weapons in addition to crushing Al-Shabaab bases .
And on Tuesday, the team launched an airstrike that left around 17 militants dead, SNA spokesman Col. Ali Hashi said, adding that the operation would continue for the remaining months in 2021 before troops do not take over the security responsibilities of AMISOM forces.
“We succeeded in bombing Al-Shabaab bases in Ali Fooldhere and Warahley, where nearly 17 Al-Shabaab militants died,” he said, noting that the operation in said region has officially started on Monday and will continue until the end of the year. the coming weeks.
He added: “This is a rare airstrike and I can confirm that no civilians were killed or injured during the operation. We thank the people for continuing to work closely with us to defeat these. criminals who have little awareness of life and property. “
However, the spokesperson noted, a number of residents were displaced after the SNA shelled the villages of Ali Foldhere and Qurac Madobe. SNA troops are known for their infantry skills and often rely on AMISOM and the US Africa Command for aerial surveillance.
It comes after troops managed to destroy nearly 14 bases in Middle Shabelle that were occupied by Al-Shabaab on Monday, seizing a number of weapons and explosives. The SNA Chief of Staff, General Odowaa Yusuf Rageh, was often involved in operations.
But in Lower Shabelle, troops did not arrive on time in a village near the ancient town of Barawe, giving Al-Shabaab a chance to take over. The governor of the region, Mohamed Nur, said the AU forces had left the forward operating base for other supply routes where Al-Shabaab opposed the population.
The operations against the militants appear to be constant and well planned given the frequent exits of the military. On Tuesday, at least three Al-Shabaab operatives were captured near Mogadishu as part of the strategy to defeat the group.
“The Somali Haramcad Police Special Unit captured 3 Al-Shabab operatives and their vehicle on Tuesday evening after attempting to attack the security forces checkpoint guarding the construction of the road between Mogadishu and Afgoye,” official media reported.
In the past three months, at least 300 Al-Shabaab militants have been killed in various parts of the country, with the group now controlling small sections of the country. Al-Shabaab is fighting to overthrow the fragile Somali administration backed by the UN.
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