Somali Forces and Allies Gear Up for Offensive Against Al-Shabaab After Losing Ground

BELEDWEYNE, Somalia - Just as the fight against Al-Shabaab militants builds momentum in central and southern regions, the group suffered massive setbacks in the Aboorey area within the Hiiraan region, where there is massive security mobilisation against the militants.

The al-Shabaab fighters have recently gained ground in different parts of the country, causing panic among government bureaucrats and senior government officials who are accused of failing to treat the war as a matter of urgency.

According to the state media, forces from the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA), in collaboration with international partners, managed to target installations and hideouts of senior Al-Shabaab commanders within the Hiiraan region.

"The National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA), in coordination with international partners, conducted a successful, intelligence-led operation in the Aboorey area of the Hiiraan region, targeting a location where senior members of the Al-Shabaab terrorist group were holding a meeting," state media reports.

"The operation, which was meticulously planned and executed, resulted in the elimination of eight militants, including key commanders and fighters involved in plotting attacks against local communities.

"Authorities confirmed that the operation achieved its objectives with precision, disrupting imminent threats and reinforcing ongoing efforts to stabilize the region," the state media further reported.

The militants have heightened activities across the country, forcing the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) Forces, the Somali National Army (SNA), and local militia to retreat and consolidate a common plan to flush out the militants.

Al-Shabaab still controls large swathes of rural central and southern regions, but the government maintains that the group no longer dominates in strategic towns. The government has also been accused of failing to control the group’s infiltration into critical security agencies, leading to endless attacks.

GAROWE ONLINE