...... Somalia's version of the Taliban, functioning as an arm of al-Qaeda...suffered immense losses on Friday during an operation conducted by the Somali National Army [SNA], army officials confirmed, with the country gearing up for the second phase of the crackdown which will focus on southern parts.
In three sites controlled by the al-Shabaab within Buq Aqable, Hiran region, at least 18 snuffies were killed in the operation, which also left about 20 vehicles used by the group badly dismembered. The country is preparing for the final phase but much of the focus has been in central regions where the first phase was conducted.
Within the past week, the government also reported new operations in two other al-Shabaab-controlled towns - Bulo Fulay [Bay region] and Galhareri [Galgudud]. The operation in Galhareri was also reported by al-Shabaab, who claimed that the national army had suffered losses.
Later on Friday, the al-Shabaab admitted that the army targeted regions in Hiiraan, but claimed that civilians were affected in the operation. Usually, the group does not admit casualties whenever it suffers losses in operations conducted by the national army and foreign soldiers.
This comes are President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud pledged to eliminate al-Shabaab within the next few months. During a Town Hall meeting on Thursday evening, Hassan Sheikh said his government will either eliminate the group or they will remain in small pockets where they can’t hurt the government. According to him, the federal government of Somalia has changed tactics from solely focusing on capturing towns and villages to "sweeping" the snuffies from the countryside so that they don’t get the opportunity to attack government forces from behind.