Villagers in Somalia confronted by Al-shabaab

A heavy confrontation ensued between Al-Shabaab fighters and innocent civilians in central Somalia as Somali National Army (SNA) combed its strongholds.

Reports indicate, amid ongoing operations within the region which has been a center of clashes between the militants and the Somali National Army (SNA).

Sources say the group ambushed locals in Muku Dhere village about 13 kilometers north of Bal’ad town, which has been a target of Ashabaab for a couple of years.
Friday’s confrontation was reportedly triggered by Al-Shabaab fighters who targeted several women who they accused of helping government forces.

For the last three weeks, the Somali National Army has pitched a tent in the region which is found in Middle Shabelle, where they are being assisted by a number of African Union Mission Forces in Somalia to eradicate the islamist group.

Reports from the vicinity of Muku Dhere village have alleged that Al-Shabaab killed five women accused of supporting the SNA Force during this week’s operations. The militants reportedly outnumbered the locals and torched homes during the fighting on Friday.

After the confrontation, sources said, hundreds of villagers fled their homes only to return hours later where they found their houses burnt and farm machinery destroyed by the Al-Qaida linked group. Other sources say as many as eight locals were killed.

Security forces reported killing 28 alshabaab members in four villages under Ballad over the last few days during the showdown in the region.
The government troops have been conducting a series of activities across the region.

Al-Shabaab still controls large swathes of rural central and southern Somalia, but efforts by security forces have seen the group drastically degraded.

The African Union Mission has been pushing for a joint mission with the United Nations in the Horn of Africa nation.