Al-Shabaab attack foiled in Jubaland state of Somalia

KISMAYO, Somalia - Security team drawn from the elite Darwish forces of Jubaland state suffered serious wounds over the weekend as they helped foil a serious Al-Shabaab attack, authorities reported, which would have other two devastating impacts on the people of Somalia.

Sources from security teams said at least six members of Darwish forces were critically injured after the Al-Shabaab attempted to attack an army base at Afmadow district within Lower Jubba, a region which is under the Kenya Defense Forces [KDF] who man Sector II of ATMIS.

Mahad Mohamed Islam, the commander of Darwish forces of the Jubaland regional army, said the military managed to detonate two trucks laden with explosives as they approached the security base. The Al-Shabaab usually targets army bases across the country.

"We resisted the terrorist group's attack. So the enemy didn't do what they wanted because the first truck bomb exploded in a deserted area outside the camp, and the second one was hit with a rocket outside the district," Commander Mahad Mohamed Islam stated.

The incident triggered heavy gunfire in the region as the regional troops clashed with the militants who suffered an immense setback. Several Al-Shabaab commanders were killed during the melee with weapons that are said to be sophisticated and also confiscated by the regional troops.

For decades, Al-Shabaab militants have been targeting members of the security forces, often opening fire at the various army bases. In 2016, the militants managed to kill over 200 members of the Kenya Defense Forces at El-Adde before raiding Kulbiyow Forward Operating Base killing over 70 KDF soldiers.

But in return, the Al-Shabaab who took responsibility for the attack at Afmadow, have also suffered losses across the country particularly in Galgaduud, Hiiraan, and Bay regions, with the Somali National Army coordinating operations against the group with assistance from the US Africa Command and the local militia.

Also helping with operations are the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia [ATMIS] troops who are set to hand over security responsibilities to the Somali National Army in the coming months. However, security experts argue that the Somali force is not stable to take over from ATMIS at least within the next three years.

GAROWE ONLINE