Thursday January 19, 2023
Jowhar (HOL) - Somali government says the country's national army, with the help of anti-al-Shabab local civilians and international partners, has conducted a planned military operation against al-Shabab in the Middle Shabelle region, killing at least 15 al-Shabab militants.
A statement issued by the government Saturday says the army's planned operation against the militants took place on the farm of Sheikh Qasim, which is located in the Dhagahow area under Hawadley village in the country's Middle Shabelle province.
The statement added that the army forces sized weapons and military vehicles during the operation.
Islamist fighters from al Shabaab on Tuesday stormed a military base in the village of Hawadley with a suicide car bomb and then opened fire, killing at least seven soldiers, including the base commander, an officer said.
The base is located about 60 km (35 miles) north of the capital Mogadishu and was wrested from al Shabaab control in October last year by government forces and allied clan militias.