Thursday July 20, 2023
Baidoa (HOL) - Somali army forces conducted an operation near the Burhakaba district in the Bay region, resulting in the death of at least ten al-Shabab militants on Thursday night.
According to Somali National Television, the operation targeted El-Bashir areas on the road between Jameco and Burhakaba district. The site of the operation was a checkpoint where militants were extorting money from the public and vehicles.
The operation follows a previous week-long series of military actions carried out in Jubbaland and Galmudug regional states, where Somali security forces, supported by international partners, eliminated over 200 al-Shabab militants, including senior leaders.Ministry of Defense Spokesman, General Abdullahi Ali Aanod, confirmed that 100 militants were killed in the Weel Maaro area of Jubbaland region on the 14th and 15th, while an additional 50 militants were killed in another operation in Ali Qura on Wednesday morning.
Two days ago, Somalia President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud condemned the militant group al-Shabab for imposing a weeklong blockade on the southwestern town of Baidoa. Authorities say the Islamist group has cut off supplies in and out of the area, worsening hunger caused by record drought and insecurity.
Al-Shabaab set up the blockade Tuesday, cutting off transport to and from Baidoa, the capital of South West state.
The blockade, which comes ahead of a planned government military offensive in the region, has affected businesses and resulted in price hikes as vehicles transporting goods from towns such as Mogadishu are stranded.