The Defense Minister of Somali Federal Gov’t, Ahmed Ma’alin Fiqi on Wednesday held a press conference in the ministry of defense has given details of the operations that are underway in certain provinces in the country.
The minister has said that operations which are underway in the country are aimed to eradicate the terrorist group that has entered a new stage. He stated that heavy defeat was inflicted on the militant group of Al-Shabab for the past 72 hours.
He pointed out that the Somali National Army (SNA) and the local defense forces known as Ma’awisley have reached victory in the last fierce fighting that occurred in Geel Gub, Sabiib, Caanoole, Barjaale settlements and in the outskirts of Adan Yabaal district.
He said: “120 Al-Shabab fighters including senior leaders were killed for the past 72 hours. These Al-Shabab fighters and leaders were killed in airstrikes and ground operations that occurred in settlements in Hiiraan, Middle Shabelle, Lower Shabelle and Lower Jubba provinces.”
He disclosed that senior Al-Shabab leader who was responsible for planning mortar attacks in Mogadishu was killed in the operations. He further confirmed that all his bodyguards were also killed with him. He reiterated that the war against Al-Shabab will not stop until the militant group will be liberated from the entire country. He commended and congratulated on the local defense forces known as Ma’awisley from Hawadle clan.
He said: “ The liberation of settlements that Al-Shabab fighters are hiding will not halt. It is a national war. We are committed to drive out Al-Shabab from the entire country be it settlements and villages until they will be eradicated.”
The Press conference held by the Defense Minister of Somalia comes at a time when armed clashes ensued between Ma’awisley forces from Hawadle clan and Al-Shabab militants that entered its fourth day running.
The Defense Minister has sent a stern message to some of the politicians who strongly oppose the Somali Federal Gov’t. He said that some of the politicians behave as if they are the spokespersons of the militant group of Al-Shabab. He called on them to refrain from every statement that will damage the operations that are aimed to liberate Al-Shabab from the country.
He said: “I hereby convey a message to the opposition politicians who talk in the media, telling statements that they are in support of the militant group of Al-shabab while talking as if they are the spokespersons of Al-shabab. I say that these people know each other. They have to refrain from what you are doing. Every time you say the army has collapsed, the army needs your support. You should not talk like that as some of you are Members of the Parliament.
