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Somali military says killed scores of Al-Shabaab militants, or maybe 28
[Garowe] An operation waged by the Somali National Army [SNA] within the last two days has left Al-Shabaab militants with heavy losses, in the latest significant success against the Somalia-based terror group.

The SNA Force on Friday announced that the operation majorly in Lower and Middle Shabelle was extremely "successful" in the manner in which it was executed, noting that the militants suffered heavy casualties.

The SNA contingent said the operation was carried out in the villages of Marerey, Mukay-Dhere, Shalow and Yaqle villages, all located on the outskirts of the town of Balad, in the country's Middle Shabelle region, according to a security officer in the region, who spoke to Anadolu Agency over the phone.

According to the officer, there was a fresh fight on Friday between the military and Al-Shabaab in the outskirts of Muku Dhere village after the militants engaged the residents in a firefight. At least eight civilians were killed, officials said.

Balad is a strategic agricultural town located 40 kilometers [24 miles] north of the country's capital, Mogadishu. The town has been witnessing battles between Al-Shabaab and SNA due to its strategic location.

The commander of the 27th Division of the Somali National Army, Salah Yaqub also confirmed the operation to local media, saying they carried out the offensive against Al-Shabaab and killed 28 terrorist fighters and destroyed their hideouts.

Somalia is battling against the militants who have controlled large swathes of rural central and southern Somalia, but there has been significant progress in recent years following cooperation between SNA and the AMISOM troops.

Al-Shabaab militants confront villagers in Somalia

[Garowe] A heavy confrontation ensued between al-Shabaab
...... the Islamic version of the old Somali warlord...
Lions of Islam and innocent civilians in central Somalia, reports indicate, amid ongoing operations within the region which has been a center of festivities between the Lions of Islam and the Somali National Army [SNA].

Sources say the Lions of Islam ambushed locals in Muku Dhere village about 13 kilometers north of Bal'ad town, which has been a target of the Lions of Islam for a couple of years. Friday’s confrontation was reportedly triggered by al-Shabaab fighters who targeted several women who they accused of helping government forces.

For the last three weeks, the Somali National Army has pitched a tent in the region which is found in Middle Shabelle, where they are being assisted by a number of African Union
...a union consisting of 53 African states, most run by dictators of one flavor or another. The only all-African state not in the AU is Morocco. Established in 2002, the AU is the successor to the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), which was even less successful...
Mission Forces in Somalia to eradicate the murderous Moslems.

Reports from the vicinity of Muku Dhere village have alleged that al-Shabaab Lions of Islam killed five women accused of supporting the SNA Force during this week’s operations. The Lions of Islam reportedly outnumbered the locals and torched homes during the fighting on Friday.

After the confrontation, sources said, hundreds of villagers fled their homes only to return hours later where they found their houses burnt and farm machinery destroyed by the al-Qaeda linked group. Other sources say as many as eight locals were killed.

Security forces reported killing 28 Lions of Islam in four villages under Bal’ad over the last few days during the showdown in the region. The government troops have been conducting a series of activities across the region.

Al-Shabaab still controls large swathes of rural central and southern Somalia, but efforts by security forces have seen the Lions of Islam drastically degraded. The African Union Mission has been pushing for a joint mission with the United Nations
...an idea whose time has gone...
in the Horn of Africa nation.
Posted by: trailing wife 2022-01-30
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=623647