Somalia: Al-Shabaab suffers more defeats in latest army operation

MOGADISHU, Somalia - The Somali National Army [SNA] with assistance from members of the local militia has managed to capture El-Dher in the Galgadud region within Galmudug state from Al-Shabaab on Tuesday.

The troops entered the town without encountering resistance from the militants who reportedly withdrew from the small town ahead of the assault.

Meanwhile, the allied forces killed ver 23 suspected Al-Shabaab militants, in the latest operation at Danow location near Shalanbod District in the Lower Shabelle region where the militants are popular.

Odowaa Yusuf Rageh, Somalia's Chief of Defense Forces, the militants were planning to launch an assault on members of the Somali National Army and officers from the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia [ATMIS], who are vital in the restoration of peace and stability in the country.

Security forces from both teams with assistance from the local militia, the Chief of Defense Forces added, responded swiftly in the Monday incident killing instantly at least 23 terrorists whose main aim was to ambush them at a central location within Lower Shabelle.

“Our SNA forces killed 23 terrorist militants of Al-Shabaab and injured others at Danow location in the lower Shabelle region this morning. The forces recovered large weapons during the operation”, Army Chief told the state media.

In his remarks, the Chief of Defense Forces added: "We have made critical steps in the fight against Al-Shabaab and there is no doubt about that. Everyone in the country is tired of these people and we are in the process of eliminating them completely. We thank those cooperating well with us."

The encouraging news came moments after members of the security managed to liberate the strategic towns of Haradhere and Gal'ad in Middle Shabelle, marking the milestone in the fight against Al-Shabaab. The capture of the towns was welcomed by senior leaders led by Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre, former PM Omar Sharmarke, and former HirShabelle President Mohamed Abdi Waare.

A defeated Al-Shabaab, sources added, started driving locals out of the towns to keep them away from members of the Somali National Army [SNA] and other state officials.

The Al-Shabaab was raking in millions of dollars from the two towns, which partly assists them in the payment of fighters besides facilitating other logistics.

The Al-Shabaab extortionists have also lost grip in other parts of the country with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud projecting that by the end of January, the militants may have completely lost their traditional strongholds in Middle and Lower Shabelle, with significant progress also made within the dangerous Jubba region.

GAROWE ONLINE