The Al-Qaeda affiliated Al-Shabaab militant group suffered a huge blow on September 20th after dozens of its fighters were killed and a strategic town of Booco, Hiran in Central Somalia liberated in a well-coordinated, intelligence-led military operation.
SNA military chief General Odawa Yusuf confirmed of the successful raid against the Islamist militants the small but a strategic town of Booco in the country’s central Hiran region. The General noted that armed locals from village of Yasoman also backed the military operations in driving out the Islamist Al-Shabaab who have controlled the village and Booco town for about 1 years.
According to Hiran Governor, Ali Jeyte Osman, Booco has been an Al-Shabaab stronghold that was used as the region’s base for their so-called shadow court and to extort money from locals. He lauded the army troops for their dedication in eliminating the enemy in the area that has suffered under the rule of the Islamist militants. He noted that the army took over the villages of Garisiyani, Booco and Nur-Fanah, as well as many other locations in the two-days operations. The offensive that began on September 19th also received air back up from the U.S. troops.
Al-Shabaab spokesman, Ali Dhere in a recent statement said that they are ready for the war announced by the new President of Somalia, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and also sent a warning to the armed clans fighting in central Somalia, urging them not to support the Somali government forces.
Al-Shabaab has suffered heavy losses in recent weeks in battles with armed clans and federal government forces supported by allied forces in Hiran region of central Somalia.
