Wednesday March 22, 2023
Mogadishu (HOL) - On Wednesday, Somali forces, including the 5th unit of the 16th Brigade and Jubbaland administration's security forces, carried out a planned operation to target Al-Shabaab fighters in the Lower Jubba region. The operation resulted in the deaths of five suspected Al-Shabaab operatives.
Commander Arab Dheeg Ahmed of the 5th unit of the 16th Battalion reported that joint forces conducted operations in several areas, including Bibi, Malik Dahajo, Beerhani, Quds, and Yaaq Dabayl.
During the operation, government soldiers also captured members of Al-Shabaab and recovered five automatic rifles. Commander Ahmed stated that operations against Al-Shabaab would continue until the group is eradicated from Jubbaland, where they still hold significant territory.
The Minister of Defense of the Federal Government of Somalia, Abdulkadir Mohamed Noor, announced that the first phase of operations against Al-Shabaab resulted in the deaths of 3,000 fighters, with 3,700 militants injured in the ongoing operations in Hirshabelle and Galmudug. These operations have been carried out in collaboration with Somali government forces and local residents, and they have successfully removed Al-Shabaab from areas and districts they have controlled for the past ten years.
One of the most significant achievements of the operations is the opening up of traffic in areas and districts previously cut off by Al-Shabaab. The 575-kilometre-long road connecting Mogadishu and Galkayo is now open. Local people, known as Ma'wisley, have provided significant support in this effort. It is worth noting that airstrikes from the US AFRICOM command also support these forces.
Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud declared a "total war" against Al-Shabaab following his election in May.