Hiiraan Online
Tuesday, March 10, 2015
MOGADISHU (HOL) ---Somali troops backed by the African Union forces in Somalia have captured a district in southern Somalia after a brief battle with the Al-Qaeda-linked fighters on Tuesday, bringing troops closer to capturing new strategic areas in the region, officials said.
The capture of Masjid Ali Gadud in Middle Shabelle region is yet another blow to Al-Shabab which is trying to expand its areas under its control after series of ground losses to the allied forces.
Military officials told HOL that Al-Shabab fighters have fled after putting little resistance to the advancing forces.
"It's a much needed relief for the residents of this area who suffered in the hands of this group for so long." said a senior Somali military official who spoke to the local media. The captured area is an important transit hub for vehicles shuttling through central and southern regions.
Al-shabab which still controls large swathes in Somalia has lost their key strongholds to the Somali army and African Union forces for the past three years, leaving the group militarily weaker as fighters started a deadly guerilla war against allied forces.