Today, Wednesday, the "Al-Shabaab Al-Mujahideen Movement" attacked a military base in the Middle Shabelle region (southeastern Somalia), killing a military commander and a number of soldiers, while the government army regained another city that was controlled by this armed movement.

And the Al-Jazeera correspondent quoted local sources as saying that 11 soldiers, including a senior officer in the government army, were killed in an attack launched by Al-Shabaab with car bombs on the base in the town of Hawadli.

The sources pointed out that the military base was targeted with car bombs before clashes broke out between the attackers and the government forces that were inside.

And Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the attack, which comes a day after an explosion occurred in the Halgan region of Hiran region, central Somalia, and resulted in 3 dead and 5 wounded.

According to the Reuters news agency that the youth movement claimed responsibility for the bombing, which targeted a checkpoint of Somali forces in the region.

Prime Minister Hamza


Abdi Barre praises the success of the National Army and the Popular Resistance in restoring control of the strategic city of Haratiri in Mudug Governorate.

#Somalia pic.twitter.com/CidzguxtH7

- Arabic Somalia ray (@SomaliRayArabic) January 17, 2023

Restore a third city

Meanwhile, Somali Defense Minister Abdul Qadir Mohamed Jama announced that the army was able on Tuesday - with the support of clan militants - to control the strategic city of "Eil Tiri" in the Galmudug region (center of the country), overlooking the Indian Ocean, and recover it from the grip of Al-Shabaab.

"Ail Tiri" is 30 km from the city of Tusmarib, the capital of the region, and has been under the control of Al-Shabaab movement for nearly a year, thus becoming the third city to be recaptured by government forces within two days, after the cities of "Gil'ad" and "Har Tiri", which in turn overlooks the Indian Ocean.

And the Somali Defense Minister announced - on Monday - that the army, with the support of clan militants, was able to restore the city of "Har Tiri" after the withdrawal of Al-Shabaab fighters from it.

He added that the army began extensive combing operations inside the city to secure it, and to ensure that it was free of explosives believed to have been planted by the movement's militants before their withdrawal.

A sea port for receiving weapons

The city of "Har Tiri" was under the control of Al-Shabaab fighters 10 years ago, and since it overlooks the Indian Ocean, the movement used it as a sea outlet for it to receive weapons and receive foreign fighters.

By controlling this city, the government forces will have reached the eastern edge of the central regions, and will be able to receive direct support and coordination from the state of Puntland in the north-east of the country, and from the strategic city of "Galkayo" in central Somalia.

Earlier, the government army retook towns and villages located in the vicinity of the city of Jalad, forcing the militants of the Al-Shabaab movement to withdraw from it after they had been controlling it for 7 years, according to security sources.

Since last July, the government army, with the support of tribal forces, has launched military operations against the youth movement in the center of the country.

And the authorities announced the restoration of control over several cities in the region and the killing of hundreds of militants of the "Mujahideen Youth".