OSINT SUMMARY
Thursday 22nd October 2014, Somali government forces launched an offensive against the Harakat al Shabaab al Mujahideen base near Halgan in Hiiran locality.
During the raid, one Al Shabaab fighter was killed as others were believed to have fled on learning government forces were advancing on them. The military raid also saw four AK-47 riffles assaults recovered.
Halgan area has been an Al Shabaab stronghold for several years where the militants have been forcibly collecting Zakah (an Islamic levy on the wealth) from the local residents who are involved in herding as their source of livelihood.
The Al Qaeda affiliated branch is Somalia has faced significant blows from SNA and allied AMISOM troops.
The outfit’s capability is fast dwindling, in t he recent few weeks, the militants have been pushed out of their bases; in other areas the militants have withdrawn without resistance and now Halgan village in Somalia’s central region has been recaptured by the government forces.
