SNA repels Al-Shabaab attack on a key town in central Somalia

The Somali Army launched a security operation against Al -Shabab in Mudug region last month [ Photo: State media]

MOGADISHU, Somalia - The Somali National Army [SNA] have announced repelling an Al-Shabaab attack in a military base within Amaara town of Mudug region in Central Somalia, in the latest victory against the militants, who are keen to topple the government.

For the last couple of months, the SNA soldiers have been carrying out operations in Central Somalia, in a move that is aimed at neutralizing the militants, who have been controlling large swathes of rural central and southern Somalia.

The officials of the 21st Division of the SNA Force said that they had inflicted heavy casualties on the militants. The military, however, did not give an exact number of militants who were killed in the attack.

But independent reports from central Somalia say Al-Shabaab militants have retaken the town of Amaara after the dawn attack on government forces stationed there. The reports have been vehemently denied by the government, which insists Al-Shabaab suffered losses.

The attack started with SVBIED, casualties have been reported. Federal and regional forces captured the town from the militants earlier this month, in an operation that was spearheaded by the Chief of Defense Forces, General Odowaa Yusuf Rageh.

Al-Shabaab has been targeting innocent civilians, security forces, and government officials in their attacks. There have been significant gains in the fight against the militants with over 700 of them killed from May to August this year according to military sources.

The SNA troops are trying to regain control of the country which has largely depended on AMISOM troops for security. The AMISOM team is scheduled to leave in December but there have been efforts to have them stay in the country for a little bit longer.

GAROWE ONLINE