Sunday December 11, 2022
Jowhar (HOL) - At least one civilian was killed, and four others were injured when a landmine struck their vehicle on the outskirts of Jowhar, the administrative capital of Hirshabelle state, on Sunday.
According to reports, the deputy manager of the Jowhar airport and the commander of the Jowhar police station were travelling down the same road minutes before the landmine explosion in the Handholey area.
Security forces arrived at the blast site and transported the victims to Jowhar town.
No group claimed responsibility for the attack, but regional government officials strongly suspect al Shabab, which is known to target government officials, soldiers and civilians with IEDs planted on roads throughout the country.
Last week, Somali National Army (SNA), along with local militias known as Ma'awisley, recaptured Adan Yabaal town, a longtime Al Shabaab stronghold about 220 kilometres north of the capital Mogadishu.
Security forces inflicted massive casualties on the group during the operation to recapture Adan Yabaal town in the Middle Shabelle region.
The Somali government discovered mass graves of wounded Al Shabaab fighters, killed by their own commanders, as they entered Adan Yabal for the first time in years.
Run Nirgood, the only village held by al Shabab in the Middle Shabelle region, would be liberated in the coming days, as the militants' time had come to an end, according to President Mohamud.