Al-Shabab takes control of key town in central Somalia
Al-Shabab Takfiri militants have retaken control of a key town in Somalia's central province of Hiran in the wake of the withdrawal of hundreds of Ethiopian troops serving with the African Union mission in the area.
The al-Qaeda-linked militant group said in a statement that its members had "stormed the town (of Halgan) soon after the enemy pulled out" on Sunday.
The statement added that the militants had taken full control of the town, which is located at a key junction on the road to the capital Mogadishu, hoisting the group's flag over the district headquarters.
Local security sources and residents confirmed the withdrawal of the Ethiopian troops from the town.
Nur Adan, a security official in Beledweyne, the capital of Hiran, said the Ethiopian troops headed toward the city after leaving Halgan together with Somali army soldiers, adding, "The Ethiopian soldiers pulled out of Halgan town this (Sunday) morning. We are getting (reports) that they have destroyed their bases and trenches around the town before heading for Beledweyne."
"The Ethiopian soldiers vacated their bases this morning, we saw them heading towards Beledweyne. There were tanks and big trucks in their convoy," Osman Adan, a witness, told AFP on the phone.
It was the third time this month that the militants moved into Halgan after the departure of Ethiopian forces. In June, al-Shabab assailants carried out a deadly attack on an Ethiopian army base in Halgan.
The fall of Halgan is likely to increase pressure and attacks on the African Union forces in Buloburde, which is the second largest town in Hiran.
Al-Shabab seeks to topple the government in Mogadishu.
Somalia has been the scene of fighting between al-Shabab and government forces since 2006. In 2011, al-Shabab was driven out of Mogadishu and other major cities.
AMISOM is largely made up of troops from Ethiopia, Uganda, Burundi, Djibouti, Sierra Leone, and Kenya.
Terrorism in Africa increased 100,000% during US 'war on terror': Study
Death toll in Somalia twin car bombings claimed by Al-Shabaab rises to 35
EU aid for Ukraine
Iranian diaspora in EU, UK deplore ban on national airline
VIDEO | Press TV's News Headlines
Israel’s military struggling with shortage of troops: Report
Iran calls for more efforts to establish peace in Gaza, Lebanon
Israel targets journalists in southern Lebanon to mask atrocities
Trump vs Harris: A choice between two deranged war hawks who cheer genocide in Gaza
Over 1,800 Palestinians killed in Israel’s month-long attacks in northern Gaza
UN official urges Egypt to seize Israel-bound arms ship MV Kathrin
PressTV NEWSLETTER
now
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
