Somalia military repels Al-Shabaab attack in central region

MOGADISHU - Somali National Army [SNA] with their colleagues from the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia [ATMIS] foiled a would-be deadly Al-Shabaab attack in central Somalia, it has emerged, with the country set to activate the second phase of operations against the militants.

According to the military, the government soldiers and their ATMIS counterparts foiled the Al-Shabaab bomb attack at Dab and Dhagah base near an airport at Bula-burte town in the Hiiraan region. The militants have lately been using Improvised Explosive Devices [IEDs] and suicide bombers to target innocent civilians.

According to Farah Ali Wasage, who is the commander of SNA in the Hiiraan region, he visited the Bardhabaq area near Halgan district where he promised that the Somali National Army would reinforce local forces in the area in the fight against Al-shabaab militants. The militants were targeting the military base, he said.

In the last few days, the Somali National Army [SNA] commandos with assistance from ATMIS and the US Africa Command, have been making advances in Ceel-buur and Galhareri town in the Galgudud region under Galmudug State. Residents did confirm to Garowe Online sighting helicopters in central regions.

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud spent most of his time in Galmadug state last week as he joined soldiers set to participate in the combing exercise meant to liberate remaining areas in central Somalia from the Al-Shabaab. The first phase of operations against the Al-Shabaab targeted HirShabelle and Galmadug states.

The second phase, he revealed, will now focus on Jubaland and Southwest states that are yet to be liberated fully from the Al-Shabaab militants. Already, security teams are working around the clock to restore order in Somalia, a country that has been struggling with instability for the last three decades.

Al-Shabaab militants have lost significant territories in central and southern Somalia but have been waging retaliatory sporadic attacks targeting innocent civilians and members of the security teams. The country is, however, optimistic that the militants will be defeated in due course.

GAROWE ONLINE