Somalia troops retake key Al-Shabaab strongholds

U.S. forces are training Somali troops in live fire drills and hand-to-hand combat, part of an urgent fight against al-Shabab - NBC News Photo

MOGADISHU, Somalia - The Somali National Army continued to move closer to the strongholds of Al-Shabaab with the government gearing for the second phase of operations against the group, which controls huge chunks of central and southern parts of the country.

General Ibrahim Sheikh Muhiyadin, the Commander of the SNA Force, says the government troops are determined to enter Al-Shabaab strongholds ahead of the crackdown against the militants. The second phase is set to begin in due course according to President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.

According to him, the troops made it to War Xoolo and Wabxo on Monday morning. The target for the units operating in these western parts of Galgudud is Elbur town. Government troops are also conducting operations in the vicinity of Cawsweyne, one of the largest villages on the eastern side of Galgudud.

The strategic plan of the army is to storm Galhareri, a major Al-Shabaab stronghold in central Somalia, reports indicate. The government troops are determined to comb HirShabelle and Galmadug states where the first phase of operations left over 3,000 militants dead.

Combing the area before the final assault in Jubaland and Southwest states is considered one of the most immediate responses by the government of Somalia. The second phase is set to begin sooner, with members of the international community particularly the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia [ATMIS] playing a major role.

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud believes when Elbur and Galhareri are captured, federal forces will continue to stay in the region until the locals are capable of taking responsibility for the security of their localities. Locals have also been playing a fundamental role in degrading Al-Shabaab.

But if al-Shabaab were to return to areas captured from them that would be unacceptable, Hassan Sheikh said. The US Africa Command has been assisting ATMIS and local troops with aerial surveillance as the country pushes to liberate most areas from the group, which is seeking to topple the government.

GAROWE ONLINE