Somali government forces, supported by local clan militia, have liberated several villages in the southern town of Beledweyne following the start of the second phase of the anti-Al Shabaab operation in the Hiiraan region on Thursday.
The operation, which began in the southern Baledweyne region, was led by the governor of the Hiiraan region, Ali Jeyte Osman. The Ma’awisley forces and government troops cooperated in these areas along the Shabelle River.
The joint forces destroyed ten boats that Al-Shabaab had been using to transport its fighters to the eastern Hiiraan region. The army has also taken full control of areas where Al-Shabaab fighters had bases, including Beerhana, Tarashante, Elahele, and others.
Governor Jeyte has announced that when the current operations in the southern Baledweyne along the Shabelle River are completed, they will start the operation in the west Hiiraan region.
According to local analysts, the governments of Djibouti, Ethiopia, and Kenya will send new troops to Somalia to help the Somali army in the second phase of the operation against al Shabaab. Ethiopia and Djibouti troops are expected to have bases in the Hiiraan region to liberate the remaining villages under al Shabaab’s control.
