hiiraan

General Omar's Commitment to Strengthening Somali Forces Imagine standing on the sun-baked soil of central Somalia, where General Omar recently embarked on a crucial tour amidst the sprawling landscapes that are often at the heart of conflict. His visit comes at a pivotal moment, as Somali forces, in collaboration with international allies, have initiated an audacious military campaign aimed at dismantling the strongholds of Al-Shabaab, a significant threat to the region’s stability. More than just a logistical exercise,…

Mogadishu (AX) – On a typical scorcher of a Saturday, under the merciless sun of El-Hero in the Mahaas district, a noteworthy arrest unfolded. Mohamed Rashid Abdi Hussein, once the chairman of the Ganuribad area in Somalia's Hiiraan region, found himself in handcuffs. The reason for his capture? A damning discovery: receipts from Al-Shabaab, the notorious militant group, left little room for doubt. These were not your ordinary receipts—they were felonious tokens, empowering a regime of illegal taxation on unsuspecting…

Beledweyne (AX) – There are days in Beledweyne when the air hums with the kind of tension you cannot quite articulate. This Thursday was such a day. Muse Salad Wehliye, the esteemed Governor of Hiiraan, took a momentous step forward, as he examined the newly marshalled ranks of the Ma'awisleey local forces. These troops gathered under the morning sun, preparing for an impending campaign aimed at dislodging the entrenched al-Shabaab sanctuaries in western Hiiraan. These Ma'awisleey fighters, hailing proudly from the…

Beledweyne (AX) – In the often tumultuous chessboard of Somalia, where tactics and survival mingle intricately, the ebb and flow of conflict has confounded yet again. Al-Shabaab militants, those elusive insurgents with their unslakable thirst for turmoil, have found a new haunt—nestled by the murmuring banks of the Shabelle River in the Mahaday district, they plan their next move. Local inhabitants mutter about seeing swarms of militants sweeping into the area, battered from recent fierce skirmishes in Hiiraan. It’s as if…

In Beledweyne, a dawn of uncertainty painted the skies on Friday, cloaked in the echoes of heavy artillery. Somber yet resolute, Somali government forces, in a coalition with the spirited Ma'awisleey clan militias, engaged in a fierce confrontation with al-Shabaab fighters. The Hiiraan region was the theater of this formidable clash, its outcome pivotal in shaping local dynamics. The operation did not emerge from thin air; rather, it was a meticulously planned offensive aimed at dismantling the fortified positions of…

In an unsettling turn of events, residents of Halfooley woke up to the grim news of a tragic killing that has sent shockwaves throughout the region. According to accounts from officials and eyewitnesses, armed assailants, reportedly hailing from the Middle Shabelle area, were behind the vicious act. The motive? A deep-seated clan dispute that has simmered for weeks, if not months. Why do age-old grievances persist as the ghosts that haunt the living? In this particular instance, those grudges targeted…

Beledweyne, a city marked by arid landscapes and relentless spirits, was recently the backdrop to a passionate proclamation by Ali Jeyte Osman. As the specially appointed Somali President’s Envoy for Community Defense Forces, Osman delivered a message filled with both resolve and urgency on a bright Saturday morning. Who would have imagined that this land, far removed from global power plays, would become ground zero for a microcosmic battle against a menacing force? Over the past week, amidst the rugged terrains of the…

Beledweyne (AX) — Standing at the confluence of strategic river routes, the heart of Jicibow has emerged from its recent turmoil as Somali National Army (SNA) forces, accompanied by intrepid local allies, plant their sovereign flag over the town. After a prolonged and grueling conflict that shook the Hiiraan region's very foundation, the tenacious forces prevailed against the unyielding insurgency of Al-Shabaab on Thursday. Why Jicibow? Why now? To the unconcerned eye, Jicibow is but a speck on the…

Mogadishu (AX) — A sense of tenuous peace lingers in the Hiiraan region of Somalia after a clangorous clash between federal forces, their local allies, and the militant group Al-Shabaab. In a daring mission, more than 40 members of the al-Qaeda-affiliated insurgents met their demise, a stark testament to the volatile struggle for control shaping Somalia's heartlands. The Ministry of Defense announced this significant blow to Al-Shabaab on Tuesday, foreshadowing the ebb and flow of conflict yet to come. Under the harsh…

Beledweyne (AX) –  Against a backdrop of dust and determination, Somali National Army (SNA) forces, hand in hand with local clan militias, valiantly reclaimed the Beera Yabaal area on Monday after a fierce tango with Al-Shabaab militants that lasted for hours. This reclaimed territory sits snug between Buula Burte and Halgan districts, standpoints lately rumored to be Al-Shabaab's cozy rendezvous spots. Cheers echo for these triumphs, yet linger questions like shadows – what's next? Nestled in the heart of Hiiraan, Beera…