PUNTLAND Somalia, March 16, 2016
EVENT
Al-Shabaab fighters in boats took over the coast village of Gara'ad in Puntland on Monday 14th March 2016 afternoon.
Al-Shabaab militants who included foreigner jihadists vacated Gara'ad village in 3-5 boats to undisclosed location after what seem as threatening lecture to the local leaders.
Forces of the Somalia’s northeastern semi-autonomous state of Puntland have regained control of the coastal town of Gara’ad in Mudug region following Al-Shabaab retreat to undisclosed location, reports said Tuesday.
Puntland army soldiers had made a tactical retreat to a nearby village to strategize on how to handle the situation without causing civilian casualties but the heavily armed militants only lectured the local leaders for a short time before retreating to undisclosed location.
The forces and police have resumed streets patrols as they embark on gathering intelligence on the whereabouts of the militants. Initial HUMINT from residents saying the Al-Shabaab retreated to a nearby area on the outskirts of the seaside Eyl town.
Analysts say the militants could be heading towards difficult terrain along Golis Mountain ranges seemingly in a fresh effort to reach out Deash sympathizers within the dispute-ridden group.
There have been bitter dissension and allegiance wrangles splitting the Al Qaeda loyalist, the Al-Shabaab in northeast into two warring factions.
