ELASHA BIYAHA, Somalia – Somali security forces, including intelligence and police units, carried out a security operation overnight in Elasha Biyaha, a town on the southern outskirts of Mogadishu, officials said Sunday.
Senior officers leading the operation inspected businesses near the main road and urged residents to cooperate with security forces operating in the area.
The security deployment came after reports emerged earlier in the evening suggesting that Al-Shabaab militants had entered Elasha Biyaha, though no incidents of violence were reported.
The presence of the militant group in the area highlights ongoing security vulnerabilities. On Saturday, Al-Shabaab launched multiple attacks in the Lower Shabelle region, targeting the towns of Xaawo Cabdi and Awdheegle, where heavy fighting resulted in casualties.
The militant group has intensified its attacks during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, aiming to reclaim lost territory and increase pressure on Mogadishu, where the Somali government is based.
str/afp
