Monday, September 17, 2012
Somali National Army (SNA) forces stationed in Lower Juba destroyed an al-Shabaab vehicle carrying weapons and fighters near Kismayo on Friday (September 14th), said SNA commander Ismail Sahar-diid.
The SNA, backed by African Union Mission in Somalia forces, has made significant gains in territory around the port city of Kismayo, he said, according to Somalia's Shabelle Media Network.
"You can see government forces are today in control of most areas around Kismayo, a nerve centre for the militants located just 500 kilometres south of Mogadishu that has been fought over the past three months," Sahar-diid said.