Al Shabaab

95 al-Shabaab terrorists killed, 7 villages liberated in Somalia

Africa /

The Somali Defense Ministry said on Monday that the army, backed by local and international partners, carried out military operations against the al-Shabaab militant group, killing over 95 terrorists. The Somali National Army (SNA) conducted operations in Middle Shabelle, Galgadud, and the north-central province of Mudug. First Lieutenant Sheikh Abukar Mohamed, the ministry’s spokesperson, said in a media briefing in Mogadishu on Monday evening that 45 terrorists were killed and three villages were liberated during the military operation in Middle Shabelle. In another operation in the Galgadud region of the central state of Galmudug, 50 more al-Shabaab terrorists were killed and five villages were taken back from the terrorist group. Earlier on Oct. 10, the Information Ministry announced that 59 al-Shabaab terrorists and four soldiers were killed during military operations in Somalia’s south and central provinces. Over 100 al-Shabaab terrorists were killed earlier this month, bringing the total number of militants killed to 254 in this month’s military operations. The Somali government has been fighting al-Qaeda-affiliated terrorists since the Somali president declared “an all-out war” earlier in 2022, but both sides have a history of exaggerating casualty figures.  Somalia has been plagued by insecurity for years, with the main threats emanating from al-Shabaab and the Daesh/ISIS terror groups. Since 2007, al-Shabaab has been fighting the Somali government and the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) — a multidimensional mission authorized by the African Union and mandated by the UN Security Council.

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Somali forces kill dozens of militants in retaliatory strike

Africa /

Officials reported that dozens of al-Shabab militants were killed in recent clashes in southern Jubaland state. The clashes occurred following three coordinated attacks by militants on military bases held by federal and regional forces west and south of Kismayo town. Bulo Haji, Harbole, and Mido were among the bases seized from al-Shabab in the past month. The militants also targeted a fourth base at Bar Sanguni, apparently aiming to disrupt potential reinforcements. Major Mohamed Farah Dahir, spokesperson for Jubaland regional forces, told VOA Somali that 135 militants were killed in the attacks. “In total, we confirmed 135 killed,” he said. “We have also recovered weapons from the deceased. … I have never witnessed such a large number of casualties in one location in my life.” He stated that at least six militants were captured alive. He also noted that the most significant loss of life occurred in Bulo Haji. However, the federal government, which has troops stationed at the attacked bases, provided a different count of casualties. In a prepared statement, the federal Ministry of Information asserted that all assaults were repelled and over 80 militants were killed. Social media accounts have released purported video clips and photos showing numerous dead bodies. Al-Shabab asserted that their militants successfully took control of the bases and claimed that more than 70 soldiers were killed in their assaults. The casualty figures and video clips presented by both sides have not been independently verified by VOA. Al-Shabab has been battling to remove Somalia’s central government in Mogadishu for nearly twenty years. The government has partnered with local clan militias to combat the Islamist insurgents in an ongoing effort bolstered by African Union troops and U.S. air strikes. In the meantime, the Somali government has honored a prison guard with a medal for bravery who was killed after he refused to give the keys to militant prisoners during an attempted jailbreak at Mogadishu’s central prison on July 13th.

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