Backed by Ugandan troops from the African Union Mission Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) and other foreign partners, the Somali army launched a new operation dubbed “Operation Rolling Thunder” in southern Somalia.
The operation is targeting strongholds of the al-Shabaab militant group, a defense ministry statement said over the weekend.
The ministry said the forces are intent on dismantling key positions of the militants in the Lower Shabelle region and disrupting the al-Qaeda-linked group’s access to the routes used for terrorist activities.
It said the operation aims to weaken al-Shabaab’s operational capacity, remove remaining fighters plotting attacks, and safeguard civilians along with key agricultural and production areas.
The ministry vowed that Operation Rolling Thunder will continue until the terrorist group is “fully eradicated as a threat to peace, progress, and state-building in Somalia.”
al-Shabaab have been engaged in an insurgency against the Somali government for more than 16 years, frequently targeting security forces, officials and civilians in Mogadishu and other cities.
Since last July, the Somali army, with the support of the AUSSOM and other international partners, have stepped up operations against the group.
TAUSSOM’s mandate was renewed for another year by the UN Security Council in December, with a UK-backed resolution extending its authorisation until December 31st of this year.
MG/as/APA