Somalia's Deputy Minister of Information Abdirahman Yusuf Omar (Aldaala) said that the National Army and the People's Defense Forces have completed the clearing operation, which they have been conducting in the forest area of Ali Foldhere in the Middle Shabelle Region.
The Deputy Minister said that the forces have succeeded in completely removing the Al Shabaab militias from the forest of Ali Fooldhere, under Mahaday District.
He said that the Al-Shabaab militia wanted to harass HirShabelle and Galmudug in the area, but the army ended their presence in the area today.
"It was one of the few places in the forest where they thought they could survive. It was also an important passage that both Hirshabelle and Galmudug were trying to harass, but thanks to God, the army cleared the forest area this morning," said Minister Alcadala.
Minister Alcadala said that the al-Shabaab returned to the west bank of the Shabelle River, where they crossed in the middle of September.
"They died, but the rest of them escaped to the west side of the river, and the army crossed them, so that they could pursue them wherever they went," said Alcadala who spoke to VOA.
The al-Shabaab have been trying for almost four weeks to stay in the fields of Iid Idida (Jimbilow) until the forest area near the eastern bank of the river.
The al-Shabaab saw the area as a good place to hide, and they can carry out ambushes.
