The Commander of the Somali National Army’s (SNA) Ground Forces, Brigadier General Sahal Abdullahi Omar, on Saturday visited the recently liberated town of Bariire in Lower Shabelle, following a decisive victory against al-Shabaab militants.
During his visit, Brig. Gen. Sahal inspected battle sites, examined weapons and ammunition seized from the extremists, and toured facilities where captured fighters are being held. He also met with field commanders, commending the joint efforts of SNA troops and the African Union Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) forces.
The General urged troops to remain vigilant and continue clearance operations to prevent al-Shabaab from attempting to re-infiltrate the town.
According to the Somali Defense Ministry, more than 100 militants were killed and several captured in a week-long joint operation in Lower Shabelle involving the SNA and the Uganda People’s Defence Forces under the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS).
Bariire, a strategic agricultural hub located about 73 kilometers (45 miles) southwest of Mogadishu, was seized along with a significant cache of weapons and supplies.
