The Somali National Army (SNA) on Tuesday destroyed two vehicles carrying IEDs in Mubarak village near Lower Shebelle’s Afgoye town.
Speaking to the government media in Mubarak village, SNA Commander Abdullahi Ali Anod said that the two vehicles that were thought to be directed to Mogadishu were destroyed by the SNA.
“Two ready vehicles with IEDs were destroyed in that operation. The vehicles were ready to take off maybe to the capital city,†said Commander Anod.
The Commander added that the military recovered different types of IEDs, ammunition, military uniforms and other tools.
“A store full of different types of IEDs was found. The two vehicles were destroyed in Mubarak today in the morning by the military. The other things will also be burnt down today. A lot of ammunition, military uniform, sandbags used for defence and a large quantity of fuel were also recovered. And the enemy suffered a big loss,†added the Commander.
The US-backed SNA launched an operation on Alshabaab controlled areas near Afgoye on Monday capturing Mubarak and Awdegle villages from the Alqaeda linked fighters in Somalia.
Alshabaab through an affiliated website said that they defended themselves from the Somali army and what they called “friends of Somali governmentâ€.
Monday’s military operation covered a large area. Lower Shabelle region’s Deputy Governor Abdifatah Haji Abdulle said that the suburbs of Qoryoley town have also witnessed the wrath of the operation that saw several Alshabaab checkpoints destroyed.
“…Anole, Daarasalaam and many villages that come under them were covered in the operation. It has covered up to villages that come under Merca town. It was a well-planned operation where the government has done a specified work,†said Mr Abdulle
“On the other side, such operations were carried out in Qoryoley. The military covered camp one, camp two, Burgaal, Maaya Muruk, Dharkinley up to Bandar. Alshabaab also fled their biggest camp in Donburale. The military later visited the area and destroyed the camp,†Mr Abdulle added.
However, reports are emerging that the SNA that launched the operation, destroyed all the said Alshabaab checkpoints and camps have withdrawn from the area.
The move will give Alshabaab fighters to resume their activities in the area.