Reports from East of Hiiraan province say that a fierce fighting erupted yesterday in El-Hareeri settlement which lies on the border between Hiiraan and Middle Shabelle provinces.
The fighting broke out after Al-shabab fighters launched a planned attack on the settlement where the Somali National Army (SNA) and local defense forces known as Ma’awisley from Hiiraan area stationed.
Reports indicate that before the fighting erupted, Al-Shabab attacked the settlement with two vehicles laden with explosives and fighting followed. Local residents said that hundreds of Al-Shabab fighters attacked the settlement from different directions.
Eye witnesses reported that the fighting commenced on Wednesday morning and lasted until the evening. Reports revealed that Al-shabab fighters managed to capture El-Hareeri settlement after troops retreated, but later launched counter offensives.
Ma’awisley leadership confirmed that Al-Shabab fighters briefly took over the settlement: However, they recaptured the settlement after fierce fighting. Moqokori district governor, Mohamed Abdi Ma’aw told that the troops dislodged Al-shabab fighters from the settlement at around 6:30 pm.
Reinforcements reached the troops from Moqokori district which later managed to push back and dislodged Al-Shabab fighters from the settlement. Ma’awisley officer told that they inflicted heavy casualties on Al-Shabab fighters that attacked El-Hareeri settlement.
He said: “Al-shabab attacked with two vehicles full of explosions. They wanted to detonate the first one to a well in the settlement, but we foiled the attack. The other vehicle is somewhere in the settlement.” He disclosed that Ma’awisley forces killed 21 Al-shabab fighters while their corpses are scattered in the settlement. He said that two soldiers were killed in the fighting from Ma’awisley forces.
