Federal government of Somalia sent the first humanitarian aid to areas recently recaptured by the government forces backed by the anti-al Shabab local militia in the Hiiraan region.
A special plane loaded with food aid was dispatched to the Bulaburde district, which has been under al Shabab siege for over ten years.
The government did not specify how many tons of relief was supplied to the region.
During the last week, the joint forces recaptured Moqokori, Tardo, Yasoman and other strategic areas in the Hiiraan region, which were previously under the control of Al-Shabaab.
Prime Minister Hamse praised the Minister of Defence, Abdulkhadir Mohamed Nor Jama and the Commander of the Somali National Army, General Odowaa Yusuf Rage, for their leadership role in the ongoing offensive against al Shabab in several parts of the country.
Over a hundred Alshabab fighters were killed in the last offensive operation in the Hiiraan region, according to the military commanders.
On Sunday, the Somalia National Army’s logistics commander for the 5th battalion of the 27th division based in the Hiraan region, Colonel Barre Ceyrow, was killed in a landmine explosion in the Hiiraan region.
The explosion targeted a military vehicle carrying the late commander and soldiers heading to the Halgan district.
Residents told the local media that the blast occurred on the road between Halgan and Garasyaani.