The Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF) AMISOM contingent based in Halgan town in Hiraan have today 23/10/2016, tactically withdrawn from their forward operating base (FOB).
Halgan, a strategic town in Cnetral Somalia is where ENDF AMISOM Contingent slaughtered 236 Al-Shabaab militants who attempted to breach the FOB defenses mid 2016.
The town lies on the main road that connects Southern Somalia to Central and Northern Somalia. This means the Southern Somalia may be affected adversely by loss of such a strategic transit point.
This is the 3rd base the ENDF have withdrew from after EL-Ali and Moqokori FOB's citing tactical and operability challenges besides climatic changes during the last months of the year.
The Al-Qaeda affiliate in Somalia, Harakat Al-Shabaab Mujahideen (HSM) terrorists moved in after the convoys of the ENDF left Halgan town.
The Ethiopian army destroyed the FOB and burnt down what was not useful during the disembarking.
Al-Shabaab issued a statement on Sunday claiming it has taken over the area (NB; There was no base to take over since it was destroyed by the ENDF.
