Fighter jets pounded a key base of Somalia's al-Qaida linked Shebab Sunday, in the latest push by African Union troops against the insurgents, the Islamists and witnesses said Sunday. The air strikes on the town of Jilib are understood to be part of the offensive by the 22,000-strong U.N.-backed AU force, who launched in March a fresh bid to wrest remaining towns from the Islamists. "I heard two heavy explosions, military jets were flying over the city," said Osman Mohamed, a resident of Jilib. The impoverished town is a key Shebab hub in southern Somalia's Middle Juba region, some 320 kilometres (200 miles) southwest of Mogadishu. Senior Shebab commander Sheikh Ibrahim Abu Hamze said war planes had struck the town, but denied any casualties. "The enemy tried to terrorise the children and women by dropping bombs in the suburbs of the city, but thanks to God, there were no casualties at all," Abu Hamze told Agence France Presse by telephone. "The mujahedeen fighters have managed to repel the enemy with anti-aircraft weaponry, they have fled." It was not immediately clear where the jets were from, but Kenya is part of the AU force and has used its air planes to strike Shebab bases before. Witnesses said bombs had landed on the main route out of the town. "Two of the bombs struck the main road thatgoes south to Kismayo," resident Mohamed Hashi said. Hardline Shebab insurgents once controlled most of southern and central Somalia. After withdrawing from fixed positions in the capital Mogadishu nearly three years ago, they have lost most large towns to the AU and government soldiers. However, they still regularly launch guerrilla raids.
GMT 14:14 2017 Thursday ,05 October
Somali refugees head home as Yemen bitesGMT 03:50 2017 Sunday ,23 April
Drought-hit Somalia moves closer to famine, says aid groupGMT 00:56 2017 Sunday ,23 April
World has just months 'to stop starvation' in Yemen, SomaliaGMT 00:53 2017 Saturday ,22 April
Car bomb explodes in Somalia capitalGMT 02:59 2017 Sunday ,16 April
Pirates hijack Indian vessel off coast of SomaliaGMT 13:14 2017 Wednesday ,12 April
Security forces free hostages held by piratesGMT 17:45 2017 Monday ,10 April
Somalia’s Puntland executes Al-ShababGMT 13:56 2017 Monday ,10 April
Suicide Bomb Hits Somalia Military Camp in MogadishuMaintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2023 ©
Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2023 ©