Allied Forces Advance Towards Kismayo
Somalia's Transitional Federal Government (TFG) forces, supported by Kenyan Defense Forces (KDF) and the pro-government clan militias of Ras Kamboni, seized Dalayad and Wadajir villages, 25 and 18km from Kudhaa Island respectively in Lower Juba region, after more than six hours of deadly fighting against al-Shabaab insurgents on Tuesday.
The fighting broke out when the allied forces launched an unexpected attack on al-Shabaab bases in the two villages, which forced the insurgents to abandon their positions. The government and militia forces then entered the villages and secured the areas. This comes after days of shelling by Kenyan airstrikes in Dalayd and Wadajir.
During the fighting, at least 18 people, including three civilians, were killed and more than 25 were injured, while most of the local residents fled from the area.
“Three of those killed were pastoralists, while the others were from the warring sides. The bodies are laying everywhere in the village and still we can hear the sound of the bullets,” Sheikh Hassan Gamadid, a resident in Wadajir village, told Somalia Report and confirmed that TFG and KDF have completely seized al-Shabaab's former military camps in the area.
The TFG's spokesman in southern regions, Mohamed Dahir Farah, claimed they killed dozens of al-Shabaab fighters and seized military equipment from the insurgent, including vehicles and weapons.
“The Somali national forces and our allies, the KDF, today reached two more villages and terrorist military camps in Lower Juba and inflicted heavy losses on the enemy. Three government soldiers died and several others were injured,” he told Somalia Report. “Our troops are close to capturing the port city of Kismayo. We are urging the people to give us the hand and inform us of any movement, so as to eliminate the extremist groups from Somalia,” he added.
Locals and junior TFG military officers told Somalia Report that two vehicles carrying TFG casualties reached Kamboni district and the soldiers will be transfered to Kenya.
No comments were available from al-Shabaab officials.
Only three days ago, al-Shabaab fled Kudhaa Island, 70km southwest of Kismayo, in anticipation of government forces.
