Hiiraan Onlie
Wednesday February 7, 2018
Beled Weyne (HOL) - Security forces in Beledweyne have arrested several suspected Al-Shabaab members in operation conducted after two attacks in the town, an official confirmed Wednesday.
Hiiraan governor, Ali Jeyte Osman who spoke to media said his administration is determined to drive out Al-Shabaab operatives from the region.
He called the operation a success following the arrests of suspected Al-Shabaab militants.
The suspects are believed to have taken part in Al-Shabaab's attacks against Somali government as well as a string of high-profile assassinations in the region.
The Governor said as a result of the operation, a number of Al-Shabaab operatives have fled the town and sent others into hiding.
The operation comes on the heels of two separate attacks in Beledweyne that claimed the lives of two people.
In the first attack, unidentified gunmen on Monday night killed the former mayor of Buloburde, Abdi Idow Sabriye while the second one was bomb explosion that killed one person.
No group claimed responsibility for those two attacks.