Somalia: Joint forces attack Al Shabaab stronghold in Southern Somalia

TORATOROW, Somalia- U.S. special forces backed by Somali commando units have launched an overnight joint offensive on Al Shabaab bases in the southern rebel-held town of Toratorow in Lower Shabelle region, Garowe Online reports.

Captain Mohamed Abdulkadir, a senior Somali army officer in the region, told local media that the allied troops using helicopter have carried out an anti-terror operation in Toratorow town, located 62 km south west of the capital, Mogadishu at midnight.

He said the operation aimed to destroy the base and neutralize the militants’ ability to execute the attacks against the military bases belonging to the African Union troops and Somali National Army (SNA) in the Lower Shabelle region.

Residents in Toratorow town have confirmed the attack, saying U.S. and Somali troops have fired several mortar rounds at an Al Shabaab camp before engaging for about 15-minutes-long fire exchange with the militants.

There was no immediate report of the casualties on both sides and the civilians. Neither Al Shabaab nor the Somali government has commented on the raid on Toratorow town in Lower Shabelle region.

Somali and American special forces have increased the anti-terror operations on Al-Shabaab bases in southern Somalia over the past few months as the nation is preparing to hold parliamentary and presidential elections.

The United States provides military assistance to Somali government in the war on Al Shabaab and has trained a commando unit of about 500 soldiers that conducts special operations in the country.

GAROWEOLINE