Sunday, 19/8/2018, Somali army forces dislodged Al-Shabaab combatants from Marka town in Lower Shabelle region, a military intelligence reports confirms.
The government forces backed by AMISOM troops have intensified counterterrorism operations against Al-Shabaab in southern Somalia.
The forces recaptured several suburbs of Marka town after engaging them in a fire fight that lasted for more than twenty minutes.
Forces of Somali government backed by continental troops have intensified the fight against Al-Shabaab in Southern Somalia.
The villages the troops recaptured are Lusiya, Obasibi, and El-Haji which are part of Marka town.
In 2016, Al-Shabaab fighters had taken control of Marka town which is located about 100 kilometers southwest of Mogadishu after Ugandan troops made a tactical withdrawal.
The Al-Qaeda linked Al-Shabaab still controls some parts of the town which harbours one of the most strategic ports in southern Somalia.
Marka is Somalia’s third-largest port after Mogadishu, situated about 90 kilometers to the north, and Kismayo, which is more than 300 kilometers to the south. Al-Shabaab fights Somali and allied forces in an attempt to take control Marka and Kismayo which are of great economic value and sources of finance to the combatants.
