Fierce fighting enters the second day in Aboorey settlement as Somali National Army (SNA) backed by Ma’awisley local clan forces engaged in a fighting with the militant group of Al-Shabab. The Somali National Army (SNA) today continued the large scale assault against the militant group of Al-Shabab that briefly seized Aboorey settlement on Sunday night.
The Somali troops seemed to have the upper hand and made major advancements at the beginning, but the militant group of Al-Shabab pushed the Somali troops and its allied forces back to Aboorey settlement which the Somali troops captured on Tuesday.
Local residents in Aboorey settlement confirmed that the army flushed out Al-shabab militants from Aboorey settlement but reinforcements reached Al-Shabab and advanced toward the settlement.
It is reported that the fighting between the gov’t troops and Al-Shabab continued until dusk. Reports indicate that Al-Shabab received reinforcements from Buq Aqable settlement in West of Hiiraan region and crossed from Jicibow settlement which lies on the bank of Shabelle River. Reports emerged that Al-shabab pushed the Somali army into the center of the settlement.
Once reinforcements reached, Al-shabab fighters managed to continue the fighting. Fighting stopped in the dusk once both sides are in the center of Aboorey settlement. It is expected the the fighting will resume tomorrow as the militant group of Al-Shabab see Aboorey settlement as a strategic location.
Al-Shabab moved into Aboorey settlement with the intention to cross into Yasooman settlement so as to take control of the road linking Yasooman and Maxaas district. The Somali military Command is doing all it can to prevent Al-shabab militants to take control of the road and deployed additional troops so as to prevent Al-shabab militants to reinforce their presence in mountain areas surrounding Yasooman.
Yasooman settlement is next to Aboorey settlement. The Somali Military Command deployed troops that reinforced their presence in the mountain areas between Buuloburde and Halgan towns. The Somali troops stationed there are ready to prevent mobile Al-Shabab militants to create insecurity within the road linking Buuloburde, Halgan and Beledweyne towns.
The fighting erupted between Somali National Army (SNA) and Al-Shabab militants were the fiercest that occurred in the East of Hiiraan region. The Somali National Army (SNA), Ma’awisley forces, NISA soldiers, and units of elite specially trained Danab Commandos are engaged in the fighting against Al-Shabab militants. There are casualties including deaths and injuries although it is not yet clear the exact number of casualties of both sides.
Lieutenant Asad Osman Afrax, the Commander of the 164 Brigade of Danab Commandos, yesterday was killed in the fighting between the Somali troops and Al-Shabab militants. The Somali Military Command are preoccupied with the task to eliminate Al-Shabab militants that raided Aboorey settlement and to prevent the group from carrying out attacks in the East of Hiiraan region.
