Somalia's elite troops kill over 60 Al-Shabaab militants

Somali soldiers, part of an elite combat unit called Danab, preparing for live fire drills at a military base in Baledogle, Somalia, earlier this month. [Photo: New York Times]

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Al-Shabaab militants suffered blows in central Somalia, the military said on Tuesday, with over 60 militants killed even before the start of the second phase of operations against the group which has been wreaking havoc in central and southern parts of the country.

Military officials said the 60 militants were killed in a fouled "complex terrorist attack" in Ali-Qadobe, a village situated 30 kilometers spiry of Harardhere, a coastal city in Galmudug state that was liberated by SNA and local fighters in Jan 2023 following intense fighting between the government forces and the militants.

The militants often plan sporadic retaliatory attacks against government troops, foreign troops serving in peace missions, senior government officials, and in most cases, innocent civilians. Attacks at military Forward Operating Bases are common in Somalia.

It is not clear if any member of the government forces was injured during the attack. Although it is also not clear if members of the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia [ATMIS], US Africa Command, and the local militia took part in the operation, they have been consistent in aiding the Somali National Army.

The success comes hours after President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud confirmed that the second phase of operations against Al-Shabaab is yet to kick off, noting that the program will focus on Southwest and Jubaland once it is activated. The first phase which left over 3,000 militants dead, focused mainly on HirShabelle and Galmadug.

In his address, Hassan Sheikh also maintained that his quest to have more non-ATMIS troops was unstoppable, adding that they will operate under the command of the Somali National Army from Mogadishu. Frontline countries had volunteered to dispatch more troops to Somalia for operations against Al-Shabaab.

Al-Shabaab militants have lost several parts of rural central and southern Somalia where they dictated previously, with government troops gaining confidence in recent weeks. It is projected that by December 2024, Al-Shabaab would have ceded grounds in most parts of Somalia.

GAROWE ONLINE