Tuesday September 5, 2023
Mogadishu (HOL) - Heavy fighting erupted in Darulnaim village of the Middle Shabelle region on Monday, as Somali army forces, supported by local militia, clashed with al-Shabaab militants.
The Infantry Commander of the Somali National Army, Brigadier General Ahmed Aden Ali, stated that the joint army repelled the al-Shabaab attack and inflicted casualties on the militants.
"We thank the army and the people of the area for their courage in defending against the al-Shabaab attack. The enemy in the area has been defeated, and our army is actively pursuing them," he added.
Last week, the President of Hirshabelle Regional State, Ali Hussein Gudlawe Hussein, along with the country's Army Chief, General Ibrahim Sheikh Muhyadin, Colonel Shute, the Chairman of the Military Court, and several lawmakers visited Darulnaim.
During this visit, the Army Commander rewarded the soldiers in Darulnaim by promoting each of them by one rank as a recognition of their dedication to defending and working towards liberating strategically vital areas in the region. He also pledged to increase their pay based on rank, marking a departure from previous practices.
Darulnaim village was one of the last areas to be liberated from al-Shabaab's control. Still, since then, the group has launched multiple attacks in an attempt to regain control of the region.