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| Africa Horn |
| Somalia, AU Troops Close In on Key Shebab Base |
| 2014-03-23 |
| [An Nahar] Somali government forces supported by 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... troops took control of a key southern town on Saturday as they closed in on a major bastion of al-Qaeda-linked Shabaab rebels, officials and witnesses said. Witnesses reported that the Somali and AMSIOM troops fought a heavy battle outside Qoryooley in lower Shabele region before finally wresting control of the town and closing on the Shabaab coastal base of Barawe. Barawe is situated between the capital Mogadishu, seat of Somalia's internationally-backed government, and the southern port city of Kismayo, which is controlled by Kenyan AMISOM troops. "The national army with the support of the AMISOM peacekeepers defeated the al-Qaeda affiliated gunnies in the lower Shabele region, today we have taken control of Qoryoley and we are moving onto other major towns where the gunnies are still harassing people," Colonel Mohammed Amey of the Somali army told Agence La Belle France Presse. Local resident Mohammed Adan confirmed that Shabaab pulled out of the town after heavy fighting with Somali and AMISOM troops. Witnesses also reported hundreds of residents fleeing the area to avoid being caught in the crossfire. The U.N.-backed AU force this month launched a fresh offensive against Shabaab bases, with the gunnies largely fleeing ahead of the assault, only to later stage guerrilla attacks. U.N. envoy to Somalia Nicholas Kay has called the offensive "the most significant and geographically extensive military advance" since AU troops started operations in 2007. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #3 Neither of which also appear to be their forte. |
| Posted by: Pappy 2014-03-23 19:04 |
| #2 "Closing in and wrestling control" are actually not the first tactical steps necessary. The first steps are the establishment of blocking positions and kill zones. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2014-03-23 11:58 |
| #1 They can close in all they want. Where they have a problem is holding position. |
| Posted by: Pappy 2014-03-23 11:53 |