Somalia's Govt forces inflict casualties on Al-Shabaab in offensive

Photo: NBC News

MOGADISHU, Somalia - The Somali National Army [SNA] continued with operations against Al-Shabaab militants, inflicting serious losses on the group in Lower Shabelle, a top official confirmed, in the latest crackdown activated by the federal forces in southern Somalia.

Multiple sources within the army said at least five militants were killed in the region with three others sustaining serious bullet wounds as the army struct Awdheele, Johar, and Aybutey villages where the militants were hiding in the dangerous Lower Shabelle belt within Somalia.

Major Nur Mohamed Gaboow, the man in charge of the operations said the army acted following a tip-off from members of the public, leading to the successful outing. He urged members of the public to continue working with the army as they seek to liberate the rest of the country from the militants.

For the last seven months, SNA with the help of the US Africa Command, the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia [ATMIS], and local militia have managed to liberate several strategic towns from the militants. Currently, the army is installing civilian administrations in captured areas.

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has rallied the Somali people behind the army, urging them to provide necessary assistance to security forces to enable them to defeat the militants saying his government will win the war and restore peace and stability in Somalia.

In return, the under-pressure militants have been trying to wage retaliatory attacks in army bases, government offices, and areas inhabited by civilians. But the forces with the help of locals have managed to thwart several attacks, almost rendering the group impotent and sterile according to security experts.

Early this week, Somalia’s National Intelligence and Security Agency [NISA] said it had foiled a complex Al-Shabaab attack in Mogadishu’s peace garden. With increased surveillance, some militants mostly foreigners are secretly exiting the country according to intelligence sources.

The government is also targeting the group's revenue sources as it seeks to cripple it financially, with the main objective being to eliminate the militants within the next 24 months.

The African Union Transition Mission in Somalia is set to commence strategic exit, but Somali forces have insisted on being "mission ready" to tackle threats posed by the group.

GAROWE ONLINE