Monday August 26, 2024
Somali National Army (SNA) soldiers patrol a rural area in central Somalia during a counter-insurgency operation against Al-Shabaab militants. The SNA, backed by local militias, continues to reclaim key territories and disrupt militant activities in the region.
Mogadishu (HOL) — Somali government forces, backed by local militias, have successfully eliminated a senior Al-Shabaab commander and two of his fighters in a precision operation in western Middle Shabelle, officials confirmed.
The operation, which targeted areas where Al-Shabaab fighters were believed to be hiding, was part of an operation to prevent imminent attacks on government and local militia positions.
A local militia commander, speaking to state media, confirmed that three Al-Shabaab members were killed in the operation, including a leader who had been organizing the group's activities. The commander withheld the name and rank of the leader but added that similar operations would continue until Al-Shabaab is entirely driven out of the region.
Over the past several weeks, Somali government forces, with the support of local militias, have reintensified their offensive against Al-Shabaab, reclaiming key territories and disrupting the group's ability to coordinate attacks. SNA forces recaptured key villages in central and southern Somalia, including Run-nirgod in Middle Shabelle and Bula Haji in Lower Juba. These areas served as important command centers for the group, facilitating their coordination of attacks and control over surrounding territories.
Two foreign fighters were apprehended in a separate operation in the Hiiraan region. These fighters are believed to be part of Al-Shabaab's pan-East African force, known as Muhajirin, which recruits militants from Ethiopia, Kenya, and Tanzania.
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has called for continued international support to ensure that Somalia can maintain the momentum in its counter-insurgency efforts.