assault

Somali forces kill more than 130 Al-Shabaab militants to repel major attack on Kudhaa, ministry says MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somali special forces and allied regional troops repelled a major Al-Shabaab assault on the strategic town of Kudhaa in the country’s south, killing more than 130 militants in a daylong battle, the Ministry of Defence said Thursday. The 24-hour operation unfolded in Kudhaa, about 70 kilometers southwest of the port city of Kismayo, and drew in the Somali National Army’s U.S.-trained Danab Special Forces,…

MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somali government forces repelled an early-morning al Shabaab raid on a military position in Middle Shabelle on Tuesday and later secured the area, the Defence Ministry said. In a statement, the ministry said fighters from the al Qaeda-linked group mounted a dawn assault on Somali National Army (SNA) positions in the Jabad Godabe area, triggering heavy exchanges of fire before troops pushed the militants back. The ministry did not provide casualty figures from the clash. Independent sources in the region…

Somali forces repel al-Shabab attack in Middle Shabelle after pre-dawn blast, ministry says JOWHAR, Somalia — Somali government forces repelled an al-Shabab attack on military positions in the Jabad Godane area of Middle Shabelle early Sunday after a pre-dawn explosion triggered hours of heavy fighting, the Defense Ministry said. In a statement, the ministry said the Somali National Army (SNA) “successfully foiled the assault” and now has full control of the area. Officials said the attack began with an explosion believed to…

BEIRUT — The Lebanese army said it arrested six people after gunmen opened fire on an Irish United Nations patrol in southern Lebanon on Thursday, in the latest flare-up along the volatile border region. United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) reported that six men riding three mopeds approached a patrol vehicle near Bint Jbeil at about 6 p.m. and one of the men fired “approximately three shots into the back of the vehicle.” The UN peacekeepers were not injured, UNIFIL said. The Irish Defence Forces confirmed its…

Somalia: Three brothers killed on family farm in suspected clan-reprisal attack in Lower Shabelle At least three brothers were shot dead while working their fields in Somalia’s Lower Shabelle region on Wednesday, in what local residents described as a clan-reprisal attack. The killings took place in Dudumaaye, an area under the Wanlaweyn district, about two hours by road from Mogadishu. Residents reached by phone said the men were tending their farm when gunmen believed to be from a rival militia opened fire. The victims…

Puntland State launches multi-front assault on ISIS positions in Al-Miskad mountains Ceelka Il-Abbal, Somalia — Puntland State security forces launched a coordinated, multi-pronged offensive Monday against entrenched ISIS fighters thought to be sheltering in the remote Al-Miskad mountain range, officials said, stepping up a campaign to flush out some of the group's last visible leaders in northeastern Somalia. The operation, focused on the Ceelka Il-Abbal area — a maze of rocky ridges and dry gullies that have long offered…

Benin Faces Growing Security Threats: A Call for Collective Action In a somber moment for a nation typically celebrated for its stability, Benin has found itself reeling from a deadly attack on a police station near its border with Nigeria. The incident, which took place on October 5, resulted in the tragic loss of several members of the security forces and sent ripples of fear and uncertainty through communities already grappling with rising violence. From Stability to Strain For decades, Benin has stood as a beacon of…

The Blaze That Ignited Political Tensions: A Look at Weah's House Fire In the heart of Liberia’s capital, a fire that engulfed former president George Weah's home has sent shockwaves through a nation already grappling with political divisions. Although the flames are extinguished, the repercussions linger, casting a long shadow over the promise of peace and coexistence in a country that has long been haunted by the specters of past violence and instability. A Destructive Flame The Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC),…

Rising Tensions and Targeted Operations: The Complex Landscape of U.S. Involvement in Somalia MOGADISHU, Somalia — The landscape of international military engagement is shifting yet again, as U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) recently reported an indirect fire attack targeting American troops stationed near Kismayo, a pivotal city in southern Somalia. While the immediate aftermath yielded no reported casualties or damage, the significance of this incident extends beyond mere statistics, revealing a complex tapestry of local…

"In Mykolaiv, Ukraine, November 17, 2024, a firefighter is in the thick of a catastrophic scene—another grim chapter in Russia's ongoing assault on Ukraine, marked by a residential house engulfed in turmoil after a drone strike," reported via a handout from the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, circulated by REUTERS. It's crucial to comprehend the relentless nature of the conflict to grasp the physical and psychological toll it is taking on the population. Russia launched a substantial offensive, the fiercest in nearly…