MOGADISHU, (HAN) — Somali government forces have taken full control of the strategic town of Awdheegle in southern Somalia’s Lower Shabelle region after Al-Shabaab militants fled during a major military operation, officials said Saturday.
Residents said the fighters abandoned the town as troops advanced, realizing they could not withstand the military power moving toward them.
Security officials confirmed clearance operations are underway inside and around Awdheegle, where soldiers are conducting mine-sweeping missions to remove improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and other explosives believed to have been planted by the militants.
“Awdheegle is located in a strategic position in Lower Shabelle, connecting key routes in the region. Its liberation is a major setback for Al-Shabaab,” a Somali military officer involved in the operation told HAN, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief the media.
Authorities urged residents to cooperate with security forces by reporting suspicious objects or militant activity as the army works to restore stability.
The capture of Awdheegle is part of a broader offensive by Somali forces, backed by local allies, aimed at dismantling Al-Shabaab strongholds in southern Somalia and expanding government control in rural areas long held by the group.
