Somalia: Prime Minister visits troops at frontline in Lower Shabelle region
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- Posted On 24-05-2017, 02:31PM
MOGADISHU, Somalia- Somali Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khayre has on Wednesday paid a visit to frontlines in Lower Shabelle region, to boost the morale of his troops battling al-Shabaab militants, Garowe Online reports.
The Prime Minister accompanied by Ministers, armed forces chiefs and other senior security officials arrived to Bali Doogle Airbase, a former air forces training base, located 111kilometers southwest of Mogadishu.
During his visit, PM Khayre is expected to meet Somali and AMISOM military commanders over military offensive aimed at driving al-Shabaab militants out of the entire region, according to sources.
Dozens of U.S. soldiers providing training and logistic support to the Somali national Army (SNA) and AMISOM forces battling the extremists are also stationed at Bali Doogle Airbase, where the PM is visiting today.
The Federal government of Somalia has recently deployed thousands of army soldiers and battle wagons to the region ahead of the planned military operation in coming months.
This is the first field visit by Somali PM aimed to assess the combat forces at frontlines, who are battling the al-Qaeda linked al-Shabab fighters.
The restive Lower Shabelle region has seen frequent deadly attacks on the bases of Somali and African Union forces by al-Shabab which overrun several strategic towns, including the agricultural Janale town.
GAROWEONLINE
