Somali army records multiple successes against Al-Shabaab

KISMAYO, Somalia - Monday's outing by the Somali National Army (SNA) could be the best in as many months, with statistics showing the army may have as well killed over 120 Al-Shabaab militants in three separate operations after the group tried to run military bases.

The coordinated counterattacks were carried out by the Somali National Army and Jubaland Security Forces in three separate locations, in Western and Southern Kismayo, the regional administrative capital of Jubaland state.

Multiple reports indicate that the militants tried to launch attacks at Bulo Haji, Harbole, and Mido, all of which were seized from al-Shabab last month. The militants also fired on a fourth base at Bar Sanguni in an apparent attempt to disrupt possible reinforcement to the bases under attack.

But Major Mohamed Farah Dahir, the spokesperson of Jubaland Regional Forces, said close to 135 militants were killed with an additional 28 captured alive by the determined security teams engaged in the operations.

“Overall, we killed 135, confirmed,” he said in an interview with the Voice of America.

“We have also seized weapons from their dead. ... I have never seen such a large number of deaths in my life in one spot.”

He said at least 20 militants were captured alive. He also said that the biggest casualty event occurred in Bulo Haji.

But the federal government, which has soldiers deployed in the bases that came under attack, has given a different casualty figure. In a prepared statement, the Federal Ministry of Information claimed that all the attacks were repelled and over 80 militants were killed.

Purported video clips and pictures published by social media accounts show dozens of dead bodies. Al-Shabab claimed their militants overran the bases and said that more than 70 soldiers were killed in their attacks.

The al-Shabaab is fighting to topple the fragile UN-backed federal government of Somalia, which has immensely received support from multinational stakeholders. The US Africa Command and the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) have been helping local troops to settle.

GAROWE ONLINE