The jihadist militia Al Shabaab, a branch of Al Qaeda in Somalia, has communicated that it has taken control of a strategically valuable village located in the Hiraan region, in the center of the country, after several days of armed clashes with the Somali Army and militias fighting alongside it.
According to what they have disseminated in their own propaganda channels, the insurgents claim to have killed at least 41 soldiers and allied fighters, in addition to seizing a technical vehicle equipped with an anti-aircraft gun and various weapons and equipment, as reported by the Somali broadcaster Shabelle.
The organization has also indicated that part of the casualties may have resulted from an explosion recorded during the fighting several kilometers from Teedan, the town they claim to have conquered. However, neither the Somali Armed Forces nor the Government have so far provided an official confirmation of these details.
Teedan, considered a nerve center for transportation and logistics in the area, is located about 60 kilometers from Beledweyne, the capital of Hiraan province. Since the weekend, Somali forces have reportedly tried to halt the advance of the jihadist group to prevent the fall of the village.
The president of Somalia, Hasán Sheij Mohamud, assured in early July that the Army will launch "a final offensive" to defeat Al Shabaab, before emphasizing that these plans are already being prepared by the authorities and reiterating his offer of amnesty to jihadists who choose to leave the ranks of the extremist formation.
In recent months, the terrorist group has intensified its actions, managing to take control of areas located north of Mogadishu. This escalation has led Somali authorities to reinforce their operations with the support of local clans and militias, as well as international partners, within the framework of the strategy promoted by the country's president.