MOGADISHU, Somalia – Somalia National Army (SNA) forces backed by local clan community fighters on Tuesday captured two more villages, which were Al-Shabaab’s strongholds in the country’s central Mudug region.
According to the residents, the allied forces Dhagaxdheer and Dahar-Cali xayloow were liberated by the combined forces without facing any resistance. This is part of an offensive to flush out the militants from the southern Mudug region, the government said.
The offensive comes before the start of the 2nd phase of the government campaign against Al-Shabaab, which Kenya, Djibouti, and Ethiopia are expected to join as its is the final push.
“Somali National Army has taken control of villages previously under Al-Shabaab) influence. This is a decisive step in restoring safety to our communities,” the local authorities in Galmudug state said.
The officials added that the government forces had restored peace and security in the liberated villages where the militants had been hiding and terrorizing the local people.
The SNA and its allied forces are currently engaged in joint military operations against the al-Shabab militant group that the launch of the first phase, which liberated chunks of territory in central and southern Somalia that were under the control of the Al-Shabaab.
