Somali military liberates strategic coastal town from al-Shabaab terrorists

By Mohammed Dhaysane

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AA) - Somali national army (SNA), backed by local clan militias, on Monday liberated the strategic town of Haradhere from the terrorist group al-Shabaab.

Haradhere is a historic coastal town that located 491 kilometers (305 miles) northeast of the capital Mogadishu that has been under the terrorist control for years.

“The Somali National Army has taken over the town of Haradhere in the Mudug region,” the army said in a brief statement on Twitter.

Defense Minister Abdulkadir Mohamed Nor has also confirmed the takeover of the Haradhere that was the last al-Shabaab’s stronghold in Mudug region.

The army also liberated Galcad, another strategic town in Galmudug state.

Galmudug state President Ahmed Abdi Karie Qoorqoor has confirmed it in a statement saying, “We commend our brave SNA and local forces for advancing the operations against AS in the east of Galgaduud region over the past weeks and capturing Galcad town today”.

He added that the people of Galmudug are committed to the liberation with the support of federal government and international partners.

Somali national army backed-by locals have been battling the terrorist group al-Shabaab since Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud declared an “all-out war” against the terrorist last year.

Somalia has been plagued by insecurity for years, with al-Shabaab and Daesh/ISIS being among the main threats.

The UN has warned of growing instability in the country, issuing periodic reports last year that detailed attacks by al-Shabaab and pro-Daesh/ISIS terror groups.

There were at least 1,518 civilian casualties – 651 killed and 867 injured – in terror attacks in Somalia in 2018, followed by 1,459 – 591 killed and 868 injured – in 2019, according to UN estimates.