30 Al-Shabaab militants killed as Ugandan, Somali troops recapture key town
The operation, dubbed "Operation Silent Storm", followed a three-day siege on Anole, with UPDF and SNA forcing the militants out of their hideouts and underground tunnels.
Thirty Al Shabaab militants were killed following an operation to drive them out of Sabiid-Anole town in the Lower Shabelle region by the Uganda People Defence Forces (UPDF) and the Somali National Army (SNA).
The operation, dubbed "Operation Silent Storm", followed a three-day siege on Anole, with UPDF and SNA forcing the militants out of their hideouts and underground tunnels.
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It was conducted under the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM)
"The offensive led to the full recapture of the town," said UPDF in a statement on Sunday.
"During the operation, 30 Al-Shabaab fighters were eliminated in a coordinated combined-arms assault."
Additionally, the Ugandan and Somali troops were able to seize various weapons during the operation, believed to have been used by the Al-Shabaab fighters.
"UPDF teams also recovered a cache of weapons and dismantled numerous Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) planted by the militants," said UPDF.
Commenting on the victory, AUSSOM Force Commander, Lt Gen Sam Kavuma, lauded the joint forces for their bravery, coordination and commitment to restoring peace and stability in Somalia.
"I commend the bravery of our gallant AUSSOM-UPDF troops and the Somali National Army. This operation is part of our continued effort to degrade Al-Shabaab and fully implement the Somali Transition Plan, which will eventually see security responsibilities handed over to Somali forces," he said.
Further, Sector One Commander, Brig Gen Joseph Musoke Ssemwanga, noted that the town had become a critical stronghold for Al-Shabaab, serving as a base for their operations and control over the area
"Since March, this town had become a strategic location for the terrorists to plan attacks, hide weapons and vehicles for VBIEDs, and erect illegal checkpoints to extort civilians," he said.
AUSSOM is a peace support mission led by the African Union (AU) and approved by the United Nations. It was endorsed by the AU Peace and Security Council on 1 August 2024 and authorised by the UN Security Council on 27 December 2024 under Resolution 2767.
AUSSOM officially replaced the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) on 1 January 2025. Its mandate focuses on stabilisation, security and state-building, to gradually transfer full security responsibilities to Somali forces by December 2029.
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