Hiiraan Online
Wednesday, February 18, 2015
MOGADISHU (HOL) --- Hundreds of Somali troops have been deployed on the main streets of the Somali capital Wednesday, inspecting cars and passengers in a counter-insurgency operation in the city which has seen deadly attacks by militants.
Mohamed Yusuf, a spokesman for the security ministry told reporters that the operation that saw masked soldiers stopping vehicles for inspection and soldiers entering houses aims to nab militants trying to melt out with civilians to carry out attacks in the city.
The operation comes as the government replaced two senior intelligence commanders in charge of the city's security last week.
There were no immediate official details about the latest operation; however, security sources said dozens of suspects were taken into custody.
The Al-Qaeda-linked Al-Shabab group carried out multiple deadly attacks in Mogadishu for the past few years, highlighting security challenges faced by the UN-backed weak government protected by the
African Union forces in Somalia.