African Union peacekeeping mission (AMISOM) troops and Somali National Army (SNA) have liberated a strategic town in central Somalia on Monday, officials said. The allied forces took control of Gal’ad town after a major offensive against the terrorist group AlShabaab, according to residents.
Mohamed Hashi Abdi, who is the deputy president of Galmudug State, said the joint forces took the town after Al-Shabaab fighters were defeated: “The joint forces clashed with the militants in Gal’ad town in Galgadud region, where Al-Shabaab has been operating from lately, before driving the fighters out of the town.” ,
The civilian population has vacated the town to neighbouring districts for fear of collateral damage. The Al-Shabaab group has recently increased attacks against AU and Somali forces in several regions..
The AMISOM forces have also increased airstrikes in southern Somalia in the recent past, killing more than 50 militants late last month. Al-Shabaab lost key strongholds between 2012 and 2013 to the AU troops but the group has since carried out deadly attacks in the Somali capital of Mogadish