MOGADISHU, Somalia – Over 30 Al-Shabaab members were killed in a joint operation by the Somali government forces and their allied foreign partners in the Galgaduud region.
The operation was carried out in the areas of Dab Hagar, Dab Qurun, Oodaale, and Eel Sabah in the towns of Wabxo and Eelgaras, which are under Galmudug State.
The combined forces destroyed explosives that the group was preparing for an attack against the army base, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Information.
However, this comes at the same time an aerial operation took place between El Garas and El Lahelay areas in the Galgaduud region, where top Al-Shabaab commanders were killed.
Despite losing ground, Al-Shabaab continues to conduct attacks both within Somalia and in neighboring states, targeting civilians, the Somali state, and the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS).
Somalia’s president Hassan Sheikh who is on the frontlines of the war has expressed confidence that his new military offensive against al-Shabaab will “defeat” the al-Qaeda-linked Islamist group that has long terrorised the Horn of Africa.
In August 2022, Mohamud launched a “total war” against al-Shabaab. In the first phase, Somali forces concentrated on the central regions of Hirshabelle and Galmudug, supporting local clans that were rebelling against al-Shabaab.
The group had seen public support deteriorate in those areas after it raised taxes on residents to make up for losses incurred from an economic downturn and natural disasters, disregarding the effects of the policy on people’s livelihoods.
