BULA BURDE (Halbeeg News) – Somali National Army said up to 250 Al-Shabaab fighters were killed in a joint operation with civilians and the African Union forces in Hiiraan region. The offensive on Monday is part of an ongoing operation which has for the first time seen the involvement of civilians on a grand scale.
Mohamed Hassan Ibrahim is the commander of the 27th Division of the Somali National Army based in Hiiraan region.
“Ji’ibow, Berayabal and Yasoman were the main supply of Al-Shabaab and linking points of southern and northern areas but now, they are under the control of SNA. They also had rafts docked at the banks of the river in Ji’ibow. But using other rafts to cross the river at an area on the outskirts of Ji’ibow, Al-Shabaab fighters attempted to attack SNA base in Ji’ibow but after more than 15 hours of fighting, al-Shabaab fighters were defeated with heavy casualties,” Ibrahim said.
Ibrahim said over 250 fighters were killed and 10 others captured alive adding his side sustained fewer casualties.
“Using rafts, they (al-Shabaab) ferried many bodies and their injured fighters. Among those killed in the fighting are top leaders of al-Shabaab. On our side, there were not many casualties. We are ready to annihilate al-Shabaab from this region as well as the whole country,” the commander said.
Hiiraan regional governor Ali Jeyte who has been on the frontline confirmed the defeat of Al-Shabaab in a mountainous area on Monday. Local communities including a self-style militia group, Ma’wisley which sprang up against Al-Shabaab in 2018 have been up in arms alongside government and African Union forces in the renewed fight against Al-Shabaab.
“They (al-Shabaab) were bombarded heavily by ATMIS forces particularly Djiboutian forces and the national forces in collaboration with the locals formerly known as Ma’wisley but now the Liberation forces have defeated al-Shabaab fighters and the operation was concluded successfully,” Jeyte said.
Jeyte echoed President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s call on civilians to volunteer in the war against Al-Shabaab.
“I want to tell all Somali people that they should make use of this chance as Al-Shabaab was defeated and people should liberate their areas because al-Shabaab is now weakened,” Jeyte said.
President Mohamud said in a tweet on Monday that he discussed the ongoing military operations with his Ugandan counterpart Yoweri Museveni.
The Somali leader has also sought support and cooperation with other countries in the region including Kenya and Ethiopia which he has visited in recent weeks.
Officials have said a new operation will now be launched in the Middle Shabelle region as more civilians volunteer to work with the government in fighting Al-Shabaab.
On Sunday the government announced it had blocked 40 social media pages and websites affiliated with Al-Shabaab to counter Al-Shabaab propaganda spread.
The operation comes amid an ongoing fierce drought that has displaced over a million people with the UN saying it could degenerate into famine this month.
Discussion about this post