Somali forces seize two towns in central Somalia after clashes with Al Shabaab

Two soldiers killed in an ambush set by the group on a patrol in the Bajo Juba region

11 Jul. (EUROPA PRESS) –

Somali troops have regained control of two towns in the central Hiiraan region on Thursday following fresh fighting with Al Shabaab, a group linked to the terrorist organisation Al Qaeda, authorities have confirmed.

According to information gathered by the Somali state news agency, SONNA, the army has captured the towns of Buruein and Shou, located in the district of Jalalaqsi, as part of the increased operations of the security forces against the terrorist group.

The advances came after two soldiers were killed on Wednesday in an ambush set by the group near the town of Bulo Haji, located in the Lower Juba region (south), a government spokesman confirmed in statements to the news portal Garowe Online.

On Wednesday, Somali forces regained control of Harbule and Uelmaro, located in Lower Juba, a day after another operation in Kaam Jarun, in the same region, in which “dozens” of suspected members of Al Shabaab were killed, including several senior members of the extremist group.

Somalia has in recent months stepped up offensives against Al Shabaab with the support of clans and local militias as part of a series of decisions taken by the president, who promised upon taking office in May 2022 to put the fight against terrorism at the heart of his efforts to stabilise the African country.