Somali government troops, alongside local militia, have eliminated multiple Al-Shabaab fighters, including foreign operatives, during a series of clashes in the Hiiraan region, a senior official confirmed on Saturday.
Ali Jeyte Osman, the Somali President’s Special Envoy for Community Defense Forces, reported that the joint forces secured major victories in battles near Beera Yabaal and Jicibow, under the Buula Burte district.
Among those killed were foreign militants, Osman stated, emphasizing that the Somali people would not tolerate their presence. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to eliminating the group entirely.
“Al-Shabaab has two options: flee or surrender. We will not rest until they are defeated,” he declared, vowing retribution for the suffering the group has caused.
Al-Shabaab, linked to al-Qaeda, has long operated in Hiiraan, imposing forced taxation and recruiting children into its ranks. However, continued resistance from government forces and local fighters has weakened the militant group’s grip on the region.