Officials said on Wednesday that about 70 people were killed and 50 others were injured during 24 hours of fighting the Betti Islamic State Fighters and security forces from the Pantland region of Somalia.
At least 15 Pantland soldiers and more than 50 terrorists were killed in a fierce battle around the Dharin and Kurak region of the Cal Misscad mountain in the Bari region of Pantland, several Pantland security officials told the VOA to speak on the condition of anonymity. It was said. Letter to the media.
In an interview with VOA’s Somali Seva on Wednesday, Brigadier General Mohammad Ahmed, a spokesperson of Pantland Safety Operations, said, the battle that started on Tuesday was the heaviest as Pantland launched an aggressive against the Islamic State Groups last month. Was, which were hideouts in the mountains. ,
Ahmed said, “We have admitted that at least 57 Islamic State terrorists, all those foreigners, were killed during the battle in the last 24 hours,” Ahmed said.
Ahmed refused to say how many Pantland soldiers were injured or lost, but the number of fragrant casualties was huge.
“The fight is taking place in a Mountinus region where terrorists are using instantaneous explosives. The fight for this nature in search of the environment, the attacker force often suffer from more casualties than the defenders, “Hey said.
VOA could not independently verify the claim of 57 terrorists, but the graphic video broadcast on social media was asked to show the body scenes of militants in a mountainous region.
Ahmed said that on Tuesday night, the United Arab Emirates went on strike against IS militants in the region to support the Pantland forces.
A statement by Puntland forces states that their soldiers have acquired land.
The statement said, “Pantland Forces has successfully captured Dharin’s strategic village in Tuga Jasel, dealing with a significant blow to the operating capabilities of the extremist group in the region.”
It states: “The forces have expelled the enemy from the areas they fought with the Tuga Jasel.”
Thesis The latest clashes targeted the Islamic State affiliation in Somalia, which describes the authorities as a high ranking operation in the Mountinus stronghold of the terrorist group.
US President Donald Trump on Saturday announced an airstrike on social media, describing the main target as “ISIS attack planner and other terrorists recruiting and leading other terrorists.”
Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohammad thanked the US for his “urban support” in the “Battle against International Terrorism”.
Military operation
Pantland launched a military aggressive “Hillk Abhiyan” against extremist groups in the region after months of preparation last month.
The claims of the Pantland commanders made about various battles indicate that more than 150 Islamic state terrorists have been killed.
Pantland leader, Abdullahi said, appealed to the public to support the operation, which he said that it is to dislike the Islamic State terrorist in the hilly region.
Operation has received public support. Monday, hundreds of residents took to the streets of Bosaso, a commercial center in the state of Pantland to protest against the terrorist group and show support for the military campaign.
Pantland is a member state of Somalia, but its relationship with the country’s federal government is stressed by political struggles and the region is considered semi-late.
Analysts say the rift between the two sides has limited any cooperation between the federal government and the Pantland regional state, including a fight against terrorists.
“Such an operation requires logistic support and reinforcement, and regional states alone cannot handle it. The support and participation of the federal government is a necessary, ”former Prime Minister of Somalia, Omar Abarashid Ali Sharke, told the VOA.
“Islamic State is a common enemy for Somalis. Politicians should separate national interests and political differences that can later be resolved through interaction. National interests, including security and development, should not be politicized, ”Former National Intelligence chief Brigadier General Abdirrahman Turare told the VOA.
Is in Pantland
Pantland has abolished the terrorist attacks carried out by Al-Shabaab and Islamic State terrorist, but has focused on ongoing military operations.
The group has a relative small appearance in Somalia compared to al-Qaeda al-Qaeda associated with al-Qaeda, but experts have warned of increasing activity.
American military officials and Somali security experts said that its membership number has increased in Somalia last year.
The group was earlier estimated between 100 and 400 fighters, but Somali security and intelligence experts say the number has increased between 600.
Most new people are called from the Middle East and Eastern and North Africa.
Faadumo Yasin Jama contradicts for this report.
