Heavy Fighting in Somalia’s Bay Region as Army, Al-Shabaab Suffer Losses  

BAIDOA, Somalia - The Somali National Army (SNA) and the al-Shabaab militants suffered casualties following intense fighting within the Bay region of Southwest, multiple sources revealed, in the latest clashes involving the two teams.

The SNA has been pursuing Al-Shabaab fighters in southern regions as part of the collective effort by the military, international partners, and local fighters to annihilate the group, which has caused many deaths in the Horn of Africa nation.

According to reports, several government soldiers as well as al-Shabaab fighters were killed after the militants attacked a military outpost, Burjeed, about 12km south of Baidoa, on Monday, within the restless Southwest State.

Sources in the region say the militants briefly entered the outpost before government forces retook it. Intense fighting ensued, leading to multiple deaths, but both teams have yet to disclose the extent of the damage.

The al-Shabaab fighters usually target military bases since they cannot wage an effective frontline challenge against the Somali National Army and allies, whose ground combat capability is greatly enhanced with the support of modern technology.

Meanwhile, the commander of Sector 60 of the national army, which operates in the area, Brigadier Hassan Isaq Omar, has been replaced. Colonel Mohamed Yarisow was appointed to replace him. The removal is not related to the Monday attack, sources said.

The al-Shabaab militants are fighting to topple the fragile UN-backed federal government of Somalia, which has been accused of failing to prioritize its priorities by engaging in constant confrontations with the united opposition teams.

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, however, says the military has made significant progress in various frontlines in the last two years, a claim that cannot be verified through empirical data or evidence. Somalia has been battling instability for three decades, now.

GAROWE ONLINE