BELEDWEINE — Somalia’s national army has carried out a series of planned military operations in areas in the eastern Hiraan region, targeting suspected militant positions as part of ongoing efforts to weaken armed groups.
According to military officials, the operations were conducted in several locations, including Jeexin, Gadoon, Xabeeble, Geedasamo and Ceyn Deedo, where troops targeted sites believed to be used as hideouts by extremist elements. The army said a number of these positions were destroyed during the operations, which also aimed to disrupt activities affecting civilian populations.
In a separate early morning raid, Somali troops launched an attack on suspected militants traveling along the road linking Aboorey and Cadow-Gurey. Commanders leading the operation said a vehicle used by the fighters was set ablaze, and several individuals on board were killed.
The Somali National Army said the operations form part of a broader campaign to intensify pressure on the militant group Al-Shabaab, which has been fighting the government for more than a decade.
Officials added that troops are continuing to pursue fleeing fighters in rural areas, as part of ongoing efforts to restore security and expand government control in central Somalia.
There was no immediate comment from the militant group regarding the latest operations, and independent verification of the claims was not immediately possible.
Somalia has in recent months stepped up military offensives in partnership with local militias and international allies, in what authorities describe as a renewed push to degrade the operational capacity of extremist groups.
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