MOGADISHU, Somalia – The Somali National Army (SNA) has announced the successful execution of an offensive against Al-Shabaab fighters in the Lower Shabelle region, claiming to have inflicted significant casualties on the militant group.
The operation, led by the elite 175th Brigade, focused on the Awdheegle district and its environs, where insurgents were reportedly moving personnel and resources covertly, according to an official statement.
“Our valiant troops managed to dismantle the Khawarij,” the statement read, using a term Khawarij often used by the government to refer to Al-Shabaab.
Major General Nur Mohamed Gaabow, who oversees the October 14 Brigade, declared the area secure from Al-Shabaab’s control, suggesting that residents are now liberated from the militants’ grip.
Al-Shabaab, which retains a strong presence in parts of southern and central Somalia, has not issued any statements concerning this operation, maintaining its usual silence on military setbacks.
The region of Lower Shabelle has been a focal point for clashes between the SNA and Al-Shabaab, with the latter frequently launching attacks against government and civilian targets.
HORN LIFE