Hiiraan Online
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
MOGADISHU (HOL)----Somalia’s intelligence agency said it had bombed a meeting by leaders of Al-Shabaab in Somalia in retaliation for an attempted attack on a training site in which four militants were killed on Sunday.
Grenades were used for the bombing on the meeting venue in the agricultural town of Bardhere, southwestern Somalia, according to officials who spoke to HOL on Monday.
In a statement issued after the operation, the agency said that key Al-Shabab leaders including the political and regions relations chief, the Gedo region commisioner, and the Amniyat chief were present at meeting when the blasts rocked the scene, however, its unclear if there were any casualities from the attack.
The statement by the National Intelligence and Security Agency further stated that the attack
occurred after the Al-Shabab leaders have sent off a team of bombers who were planning to carry out attacks in and outside Somalia.
NISA vowed it would continue such surprise attacks against Al-Shabab which stepped up attacks against the government and AMISOM since the beginning of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
The alleged bombing by Somalia’s intelligence marks as a new warfare tactic in the fight against the Al-Shabab group which solely carried out bomb attacks across Somalia and beyond.
Security experts say the bombing at militants-held town illustrates how Somali intelligence is strategically becoming flexible and able to inflict heavy casualties with surprise attacks on militants bases, something that have never seen before.
“In the military world, such tactic changes prove enormously challenging for the opponent,” said Mohamed Hussein,a retired Somali military official.
“And more importantly, it shows a degree of sophistication and advanced capabilities by Somali intelligence.” He said, recommending better use of intelligence from residents in the rebel-held areas to undermine militants ability to strike at will.