Mogadishu-Somali troops backed by local clan militia fighters on Friday recaptured El Baraf, a district in the Southern region of Middle Shabelle. The takeover of El Baraf district by allied troops comes a day before Alshabab militants took over the town peacefully after gov’t troops withdrew. The Somali National Army (SNA), also took control of Miirtaqwa district which Alshabab fighters took control. Commanders who led the allied troops told the local media that the Somali troops peacefully took control of the district after Alshabab fighters fled as the Somali forces intensified operations to get rid of all insurgents. The Commander said that Alshabab took advantage once the Somali troops went to support its troops stationed in El Ali Ahmed and Ali Fooldheere districts which were under the attack of Al Shabab militant groups. He added that once Alshabab heard that the Somali troops are on their way to El Baraf, they fled from the area.
