Saturday 1, Feb, 2025 {HMC} Somali President’s Special Envoy for Community Defense Forces, Ali Jeyte Osman, announced on Saturday that Somali army forces and local fighters have killed several AS militants, including foreign fighters, during intense clashes in the Hiiraan region over the past week.
Speaking to the media, Osman highlighted major victories in the battles fought between Beera Yabaal and Jicibow, under the Buula Burte district, where joint forces made significant gains.
“Foreigners have died in the war. Those still hiding in the mountains surprise us. We, the natives of this region, can not barely live in those forests, yet we have eliminated militants who do not belong here. The rest will be eliminated. We will not tolerate the presence of any foreign fighters in our country,” said Ali Jeyte Osman.
He also vowed to continue the offensive until Al-Shabaab is eradicated, promising retaliation for the pain the group has inflicted on civilians.
“I have two choices for Al-Shabaab: run and keep running, or stop fighting. We will avenge every innocent life lost,” Osman declared.
The al-Qaeda-affiliated group armed group Al-Shabaab has long maintained a presence in Hiiraan, disrupting security and governance through forced taxation, child recruitment, and violent attacks on civilians. Their harsh control over local communities has led many residents to join forces with the Somali National Army in the fight to expel the militants.
