...... Somalia's version of the Taliban
...mindless ferocity in a turban...
, functioning as an arm of al-Qaeda...
, suffered immense losses on Monday following an operation conducted by the Somali National Army (SNA) with the help of members of the international partners, who are closely working on Somalia’s state-building project.
A report by the state media revealed that at least 50 al-Shabaab
The
...KABOOM!...
targeted Barag Garguurte village which is located at least 20 kilometers from Harardhere, a town that is frequently under al-Shabaab raids. Harardhere was recently captured by the
Among those killed in the airstrike was Ahmed Jiis, a senior member of the group who has been coordinating attacks against government officials, security teams, and innocent civilians. His elimination was termed as a 'huge success'.
"Over 50 members of al-Shabaab terrorists, including the notorious leader Ahmed Jiis, were eliminated in a precise airstrike conducted by the National Armed Forces, with backing from international security partners," read the statement.
"The successful operation was aimed at a Death Eater convergence located in Baraagta-Gurguurte, in proximity to the Harardhere district of the Mudug region," state media further reports.
The attack in Barag Garguurte coincided with most of the areas in the southern part of the Mudug region being under the control of the al-Shabaab group. The government has heightened operations against al-Shabaab
Interestingly, the US embassy in Nairobi announced alerts on possible al-Shabaab attacks within Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia. Since then, security teams have been activated across the country to deal with impending threats.
| An earlier Garowe article adds: |
The airstrike hit the remote village which is exactly 20 kilometers from Harardhere, a town that is frequently under Al-Shabaab attacks. The town was recently retaken by the militants after Somali National Army withdrew from the area.
A statement from the federal government confirmed the airstrike on Monday, noting that the militants had been gathering within the area potentially to plan an attack against security forces and innocent civilians in the region.
"These days, the Khawarij have been bringing vehicles into the area. The airstrike destroyed army vehicles and killed members of the terrorists. Three vehicles were also burnt," the statement added.
The government did not specify the number of militants killed in the airstrike but mentioned that the group suffered a significant loss. The al-Shabaab militants have not stated concerning the latest losses in the country.
Somalia has increased the intensity of the fight against Al-Shabaab militants with over 4,000 losing lives recently after several operations. The second phase of operations against the group is set to kick off in southern regions either Jubaland or Southwest states being the targets.