EXCLUSIVE: Major showdown expected tonight as AMISOM and SNA troops make final push for Baardheere
A major offensive is tonight in the offing in the border town of Baardeere, Gedo region following a whole day military movement and reinforcements from the Somali National Army and the African Union backed force, AMISOM, Goobjoog News can authoritatively report.
Military sources have exclusively told Goobjoog News that a contingent of the Kenya Defence Forces and Somali National Army are set to recapture key towns in Gedo region currently under Al-Shabaab control.
“Our forces are finishing the last mile tonight and will be ready to take on Alshabaab any time from now,’’ said a military source who could not be mentioned owing to the sensitive nature of the matter.
Ethiopian troops who crossed over to Gedo town a week ago might also launch a similar attack from their location locking the towns from all sides.
Earlier in the day, Goobjoog News reported that that the SNA and Kenya Defence Forces troops had wrestled Tarako location, 50KM west of Baardheere from Alshabab, effectively cutting off the supply route and giving way for military offensive from Ethiopian troops from the other side of the town.
Seven Al-Shabaab killed
Kenyan authorities also confirmed that its forces, who were returning from leave, killed seven Al-Shabaab fighters and lost one soldier when they clashed in Gedo region. The convoy carrying the soldiers hit a land mine upon which fighting ensued.
“The soldiers pursued the terrorists and in the ensuing firefight, seven Al SHABAAB terrorists were killed, eight AK47 rifles, two grenades and assorted ammunition were seized,” Col Obonyo said, adding that KDF had “lost a soldier while another was injured.”
Col Obonyo said Al-Shabaab was coming under pressure following major offensives by AMISOM forces in Gedo region.
“Al Shabaab activities have been rampant in the last few weeks owing to the sustained pressure from troops operating under Amisom in Somalia,” Obonyo said, blaming the heightened activities by the militants to “the entry of Ethiopian troops into Bay Bakool because the terrorists have been forced to flee to the West into Gedo and South toward Lower Shabelle.”