Al-Shabaab militants suffer heavy losses as Somali forces eliminate 19 insurgents in Lower Juba region.
In a significant move against the Al-Shabaab militant group, Somali forces have carried out a successful counterterrorism operation in the Baqooqaha area, approximately 13 kilometers west of Buula Xaaji in the southern Lower Juba region.
The operation, which targeted Al-Shabaab hideouts in remote bushland, resulted in the killing of at least 19 militants. The forces involved in the offensive included the Somali National Army's elite Danab Commandos, working jointly with Jubaland's local paramilitary Darawish forces and supported by international security partners.
The operation, which lasted several hours, was marked by fierce clashes and strong resistance from the militants. Casualties among government forces included the deaths of two Somali soldiers and injuries to five others.
The Somali government has pledged to continue operations until full security is restored in the Lower Juba region. This offensive is part of a broader strategy by Somali federal and regional forces to dismantle Al-Shabaab's presence in the southern regions, despite challenges posed by other separatist movements complicating the security landscape.
The operation comes against the backdrop of rising tensions tied to the Somali Youth separatist movement, which is demanding greater autonomy in the southern territories, including parts of Jubaland. However, no new information about the movement or their demands was provided in the context of this operation.
Sources: [1] Garowe Online. (2022, June 23). Somali forces kill 19 Al-Shabaab militants in Lower Juba operation. Retrieved from https://www.garoweonline.com/en/news/somalia/somali-forces-kill-19-al-shabaab-militants-in-lower-juba-operation [2] VOA. (2022, June 23). Somali forces kill 19 Al-Shabaab militants in Lower Juba operation. Retrieved from https://www.voanews.com/africa/somali-forces-kill-19-al-shabaab-militants-lower-juba-operation [3] Africa News. (2022, June 23). Somali forces kill 19 Al-Shabaab militants in Lower Juba operation. Retrieved from https://www.africanews.com/2022/06/23/somali-forces-kill-19-al-shabaab-militants-in-lower-juba-operation/
- The news of the successful counterterrorism operation against Al-Shabaab in the Baqooqaha area, as reported by several general-news sources, includes details about the involvement of global political entities supporting the Somali forces.
- While the Somali government's primary focus is on restoring full security in the Lower Juba region through offensive operations against Al-Shabaab, ongoing tensions with the Somali Youth separatist movement in the southern territories, such as Jubaland, pose additional challenges to the region's stability.
- War-and-conflicts updates highlight the significant tactics employed by Al-Shabaab, as witnessed in the recent operation in the remote bushland of Baqooqaha, where the militants showed strong resistance despite the presence of the Somali National Army's Danab Commandos and local Darawish forces.
- The entertainment sector, meanwhile, may find inspiration in the brighter aspects of Somali society, such as artistry, music, and dance, a stark contrast to the grim backdrop of war-and-conflicts and political violence perpetrated by Al-Shabaab.
- The business sector is crucial in addressing the repercussions of war-and-conflicts on the Somali economy, particularly by funding development projects and creating jobs to help in the recovery and rebuilding of regions affected by operation and separatist movements.
