BOSSASO (Halbeeg)- Al-Shabaab confirmed its fighters seized a strategic village from forces of Somalia’s Puntland in the north of the country.
The group which once controlled the capital city is fighting to topple the internationally recognised government led by president Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo.
Speaking to Reuters, Abdiasis Abu Musab, Al-Shabab’s military operations spokesperson said the group’s fighters captured Af Urur village which lies 100 km (60 miles) south of Puntland’s port city, Bossaso.
“Puntland forces ran away as we advanced to the town because they know we had taught them tough lessons before,”Abu Musab, “We now peacefully control Af Urur town.”
According to the locals, Al-Shabaab fighters wrested the control of the village without resistance.
“When we woke up this morning, we saw many al Shabaab fighters controlling the town. The (Puntland military) forces had left yesterday,” Ahmed Nur told Reuters from Af Urur by phone on Friday.
Puntland authorities did not comment on the seizure of the villages and the military base of their troops.
Previous attacks
Al-Shabab has camps in Galgala mountain where the group trains its fighters.
The group more often launches attacks on military bases in South, Central and northeastern regions.
Mid last year, heavily armed Al-Shabaab fighters killed 38 people, mostly soldiers, in an attack on the same military base.
The fighters briefly seized the base and looted military equipment before leaving the base midday.
Abu Musab who spoke to the media after the attack claimed their fighters to have killed 61 soldiers and capturing 16 military cars.
Al-Shabab, an Al-Qaeda affiliate has been fighting Somali military backed by troops of African Union Peacekeeping Mission (AMISOM) since 2007.
Fighters loyal to the group had attacked some of AMISOM troop-contributing countries in the region.
The group killed hundreds of people in deadly that took place Garissa, Nairobi, Mandera town of Kenya and the capital city of Uganda Kampala.
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