The Somali military has announced the recapture of the Helgan area in Hiran province, central Somalia, from the control of Al-Shabaab, which is affiliated with the terrorist organization Al-Qaeda.
The military stated in a press release today, Sunday, that its forces managed to destroy several Al-Shabaab positions in areas within Hiran province, which borders Ethiopia. It added that Al-Shabaab elements withdrew from the Helgan area before the army’s arrival, according to the Somali National News Agency “SONNA.”
The statement confirmed that the area is now under the control of the military, noting that military operations will continue until the remnants of the movement in the province are eliminated.
It is noteworthy that Somali forces have recently intensified their military operations against Al-Shabaab, which has carried out several attacks and bombings resulting in the deaths of hundreds of civilians and security personnel.
Al-Shabaab remains a significant threat in Somalia, controlling large areas in central and southern parts of the country. They continue to engage in attacks against government and security targets, and their operations extend into border regions of Kenya as well. Al-Shabaab’s influence persists despite intensified military operations by the Somali Federal Government, which has made notable gains, particularly in central Somalia, through offensives that leverage local clan militias discontent with the group’s oppressive demands.
The Somali government has been actively trying to dislodge Al-Shabaab from these central regions, managing to reclaim significant territories. These successes stem from leveraging local dissatisfaction with Al-Shabaab’s heavy taxation and harsh recruitment strategies. However, maintaining control over these regained areas remains challenging, necessitating continued military vigilance and increased service delivery to sustain the support of the local populations.
