Somali government on Sunday vowed to intensify military operations against al-Shabaab group outside Somali capital.
The commander of 16th Battalion of the country’s elite forces, Ismail Abdimalik Moalim said the operations will take place in Middle Shabelle region of Hirshabelle state.
He stated that the government elite troops were amassed in the region to intensify the fight against the group.
“The country’s commandos have bases in Jubbaland, Galmudug and Southwest but this time round they are going launch operations to secure this region,” he said.
The commander urged the public to help forces with crucial information.
Al-Shabaab fighters have been carrying out deadly ambushes against the government and forces using Jowhar-Mogadishu highway, leading deaths of dozens of soldiers.
The group also killed number of regional officials including lawmakers in the state, forcing the federal government deploy soldiers to maintain the security of the region.
Since beginning of this year, al-Shabaab killed two Hirshabelle lawmakers. The latest being Abdikadir Hassan, a lawmaker who was recently appointed as the state’s agriculture minister.
Hassan was killed mid this month by al-Shabaab on way home from mosque.
Despite losing large swarth territories to Somali military, the group still is capable of carrying out deadly attacks in major towns including the capital.
Mid this month, al-Shabaab attacked upscale hotel in Mogadishu with vehicle borne improvised explosive device, before armed made the way into the hotel, prompting four hours siege that claimed lives of twenty people.
