Hiiraan Online
Sunday, July 19, 2015
MOGADISHU (HOL)----Columns of Somali and AU troops began a major offensive to retake the rebel-held strategic town of Bardhere while fighters from the Al-Qaeda linked Al-Shabab group militants have dug trenches around the town, raising the stakes in an all-out fight that may create serious humanitarian crisis.
Taking Bardhere would tighten allied forces’ grip in large parts of Gedo region and would strengthen their control over large parts of the region.
Bardhere has been under the control of Al-Shabab for the past six years, and the group used it as a safe haven for the group’s leaders often targeted by US drones. A US drone has killed Al-Shabab’s leader Ahmed Godane in an air strike in Somalia last year. Such attacks have since killed more militant leaders.
The anticipated offensive on Bardhere comes after the allied forces extended their advances and seized several villages around the town, moving to encircle the town.
Hundreds of terrified residents have fled to escape a potential fighting as troops started approaching the town.
Military commanders leading the offensive told HOL that the troops have advanced towards the town after seizing Esow, a town that lies 60km north-eastern Bardhere in Gedo region on Saturday.
As parts of the new offensive, fighter jets have also bombed militants’ military bases in the region on Sunday, signifying the new operation as thousands of soldiers are participating the fighting that aims to dislodge Al-Shabab fighters.
Security experts say that the new military operation led by AU forces is seen as a response to the al-Shabab’s recent deadly attack on an African Union military base in which dozens of soldiers were killed. The fighters have also looted the base.
Bardhere, an important agricultural town in southwestern Somalia is one of the few income sources still under Al-Shabab control where they tax the town’s bulky agricultural productions. The group also taxes commercial goods to the northeastern Kenyan town of Wajir as the town is the major route for the region’s inter-regional commercial activity zone.