Tuesday January 28, 2025
Somali government forces and allied fighters take position in the Hiiraan region amid ongoing military operations against Al-Shabaab.
Mogadishu (HOL) — Somali federal forces and local fighters have killed more than 40 Al-Shabaab militants during intense operations in the Hiiraan region, the Ministry of Defense announced Tuesday.
The spokesperson for Somalia’s Federal Ministry of Defense, Abukar Mohamed, held a press conference on Tuesday to provide details about the casualties resulting from heavy operations carried out in recent hours by federal forces and local fighters in the Hiiraan region, including Beera Yabaal, Addow Gurey, and other locations along the Shabelle River.
“More than 40 Al-Shabaab fighters have been killed in operations conducted in areas located in the eastern part of Hiiraan, particularly Beera Yabaal and surrounding areas. There are also several injuries within the group, which they have attempted to address since yesterday. The ongoing operations have left all the contested areas firmly under the control of the joint forces,” said Abukar Mohamed, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Defense.
The clashes occurred as Al-Shabaab militants were regrouping between Buula Burte and Halgan, two key towns in the region. Government troops, supported by local militias, launched preemptive strikes to dismantle the insurgents’ positions.
The latest updates indicate that calm has returned to the areas where the fighting occurred. However, security officials cautioned that Al-Shabaab remnants could attempt counterattacks in the coming days.
