somali national army killed more than 30 terrorists, including three of the group’s ringleaders, namely; Maadey Madobe, Hamali Kalombe, and Mukhtaar Gabigoor.

The Somali government has announced the successful takeover of Hawadley, a strategic area in Middle Shabelle, by security forces following a special operation aimed at weeding out Al-Shabaab from the region.

A statement by the Somali government said the army, with support from local milita, killed more than 30 terrorists, including three of the group’s ringleaders, namely; Maadey Madobe, Hamali Kalombe, and Mukhtaar Gabigoor.

The statement added that some terrorists were killed while trying to escape in their vehicles.

The government has termed Haladey, a town about 30 km away from Balcad city, and 40kms north of Mogadishu, an important supply route through which the terrorists used to cross from the Lower Shabelle and Middle Shabelle regions and where they would converge to plan terrorist activities against the Somali capital, Mogadishu.

Somali government has warned it will revoke licenses and close down businesses or companies which transfer money or make any payments to the Al-Shabaab terrorist group.

The Ministry of Trade and Commerce said today it will take action against businesses that aid Al-Shabaab activities by providing them with funds.

The Ministry added that it will confiscate the property of companies known to be owned or have representatives from Al-Shabaab.

The directive follows President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s announcement in July that the government will also target Al-Shabaab financing to cut off its lifeline. Al-Shabaab finances its activities mostly through forced ‘taxation’ of traders and transporters.

A report by Mogadishu-based security think tank, Hiraal Institute in 2020 indicated that Al-Shabaab collects up to $11 million per month with more than half of this coming from the capital Mogadishu.

The think tank also said in a recent report that the militant group spent $24 million on weapons acquisition in 2021.

The directive comes a day after Somalia marked six years since the October 17, 2017 truck bombing that killed about 600 people and maimed over 100 others in Mogadishu’s Zobe junction.

Al-Shabaab has claimed credit for storming and overrunning two Somali National Army (SNA) camps in Yasooman and Beera-Yabaal in Bulo-Burte, Hiraan, central Somalia.

 The Al-Qaeda affiliated Al-Shabaab in Somalia continue to scale-up attacks in central and southern Somalia. In one of the latest attacks, Al-Shabaab has claimed credit for storming and overrunning two Somali National Army (SNA) camps in Yasooman and Beera-Yabaal in Bulo-Burte, Hiraan, central Somalia.

The Islamist terrorist group issued a statement through its operations spokesman Abu Mus’ab claiming killing to have killed more than 117 SNA troops besides capturing trucks and weapons.

However, SNA has disputed that their military bases were overrun as the Al-Shabaab media outlets/channels saying their troops managed to repel the attacks and causing significant blows to the terrorists.

Odowaa Yusuf Rage, Chief of Defense Forces (CDF) confirmed of the deadly dawn attacks at SNA bases located Yasooman and Beera-Yabaal villages of Hiraan. He reiterated that SNA forces managed to repel and defeat the terrorists, killings about 50 of them.

Hiraan prefecture of central Somalia has witnessed surge in Al-Shabaab attacks prompting even locals joining counterterrorism operations in a number of villages that have been under the control of the terrorists. With support from ATMIS, the Somali Security Forces are protecting civilians in the recently liberated areas and are securing critical infrastructure including roads and water sources.

The SNA-CDF said the ongoing military operations will be intensified in the area to flush out all the terrorists who have been staging terror attacks in the region.

Major Military Offensive against al-Shabaab begins in Middle Shabelle

 

The Somali Government has launched a major military offensive in Middle Shabelle targeting the militant group al-Shabaab which controls many rural parts of the region. 

The Federal Government has sent more troops to the area to boost ongoing military operations conducted by the Somali National Army. 

More officers of the Somali National Army (SNA) have been taken to Raga Elle, Adan Yabaal and Addale to top up the contingent of soldiers already in the region.

Senior leaders of the region, legislatures and interested community elders have also joined the frontlines in pursuit of the militants. 

More troops are scheduled to arrive in Middle Shabelle as the war against al-Shabab intensifies. 

The group retaliated, conducting coordinated attacks across the country following the renewed fight by the Somali Government. 

On Friday,a top Somali police official and several of his guards were killed in a roadside bomb blast near the southern town of Balad.

The attack involved a landmine that targeted Mogadishu Police Commissioner Farhan Mohamoud Adan, better known as “Qarole,” near the Balad district, 35 kilometers north of Mogadishu.

On Monday, at least 30 people were killed and 36 others wounded in Beledweyne in the explosions of three car bombs.

The first car bomb struck the gate of Lama Galay, while another lorry loaded with explosives gained entry inside the compound, exploding right at the Centre.

A third car loaded with explosives targeted first responders at the scene, making the attack one of the deadliest in the town.

The group has recently been receiving heavy military offensive operations with the Somali government announcing the killing of a top Al-Shabaab operative in an air strike on Saturday. Abdullahi Yare, who had a $3.0-million bounty on his head, was killed in a joint air strike on Saturday by the Somali army and the US Africa Command.

Al-Shabaab has waged a war against the Somali Government for close to 15 years. The group was removed from Mogadishu in 2011 but still control many rural parts of central and Southern Somalia. 

Wanted Senior Al-Shabaab Leader & Co-Founder Abdullahi Nadir Killed in an Airstrike in Haramka Village, Middle Juba

 

The latest US airstrike that was conducted on October 1. in support of the Somali National Army (SNA) confirmed to have killed a top leader and a co-founder of the Al-Shabaab extremist group.

In coordination with partner forces, US conducted the airstrike targeting Al-Shabaab network in the vicinity of Jilib, the extremist’s group headquarter, Middle Juba, about 370 kilometers from the capital Mogadishu.

US Africa Command initial assessment indicated that the strike killed an Al-Shabaab leader and no civilians were killed or injured in the operation.

Further reports now indicate that Al-Shabaab leader and co-founder of the group, Abdullahi Nadir was killed in this airstrike in Haramka village of Middle Juba region, southern Somalia.

Abdullahi Nadir had a $3 million bounty on his head by the United States and the Somali government described him as one of the most resourceful members of Al-Shabaab. He had been close to the former emir of Al-Shabaab, Ahmed Abdi Godane, and current leader Ahmed Abu Diriye.

The President of Somalia in a recent address vowed to fight the Al-Qaeda affiliated Al-Shabaab that continue to tax, extort residents, business people and travelers. While Somali security forces say they have made gains on the battlefield in recent weeks while fighting alongside local self-defense groups, its notable of the group’s surge besides strengthened capability, conducting deadly raids over the past few weeks, burning houses, destroying wells and beheading civilians in parts of central and southern Somalia.

Morocco Buys Chinese Wing Loong II Military Drones

 

The Royal Moroccan Army has finalized the acquisition of military drones from China in a continued effort to arm and bolster its air defense capabilities.

Moroccan has procured Wing Loong II medium-altitude, long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) among other military systems.

Wing Loong II drones are developed by Chinese Chengdu Aircraft Design & Research Institute, originally intended to bolster surveillance and reconnaissance missions.

However, Wing Loong II has been fitted with notable capabilities such as an air-to-ground attack capability besides enhanced to fly for a maximum of 20 hours.

Also, armed with turbocharged engine that allows the Wing Loong II drone to have a maximum speed of 370 kilometers (229 miles) per hour.

Sources within the Royal Moroccan Military report that the Wing Loong II UAVs expected replace an older type of Chinese drone in the country’s military inventory.

Morocco has increased interest in procuring military drones. The country has been investing huge amounts of money for its military modernization program aimed at countering future threats.

 Photo/COURTESY: Bluebird Aero Systems

Last month, Morocco procured 150 drones from Israeli firm BlueBird Aero Systems for reconnaissance, surveillance, air defense, and emergency missions.

The EAC Starts Deployment Of Regional Troops To DRC With Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) Expected In Bunagana, Near The Border With Uganda

 

DRC President Félix Tshisekedi has announced that his country is preparing to receive the East African Community (EAC) regional force that is set to be deployed in the eastern region to aid in the fight against Jihadis and rebels. According to Tshisekedi the Kenyan contingent is expected to deploy and had been dispatching their logistical support systems during the last week of September.

The regional force is expected to be deployed in the Ituri, North, and South Kivu Provinces where the rebels are active and have caused the deaths of tens of thousands of innocent civilians. The Kenyan contingent will be the second after Burundian troops that deployed into South Kivu in August.

According to preliminary intelligence, the aforementioned Kenyan contingent is projected to be in charge of a hot zone in Bunagana, near the border with Uganda. The area has been under the M23 rebels since June 14 in the group’s renewed fighting.

The regional forces are expected to be made up of contingents from Uganda, Kenya, South Sudan, Burundi, and Tanzania. At this moment, while Rwanda is a member of the EAC, there have been tensions between her and DRC in which Kinshasa has accused Kigali of supporting M23 rebels, allegations that Rwanda denies.

While the deployment of a regional force has been lauded especially due to the growing threat from ISCAP, all eyes will be on the force as people wait with batted breath to see if they will redeem the military presence. The public sentiment on military intervention has been very negative as the civilians have been protesting the presence of the UN peacekeepers. Therefore, while they will be fighting rebels and terrorists they are expected to work towards winning the civilians who are very fundamental in aiding in identifying and flashing out rebels, terrorists as well as their supporters and sympathizers.