MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Al-Qaeda-linked militant group Al-Shabaab has seized a strategic town in southern Somalia after a fierce gun battle, dealing a significant blow to the government’s military campaign against the insurgents.
The militants overran army positions in Nuur Dugle, in the Middle Shabelle region, on Thursday, cutting a vital supply route linking the capital, Mogadishu, to central Somalia.
Nuur Dugle had been under government control since November 2022, when Somali forces and allied clan militias drove Al-Shabaab out during a major offensive backed by international partners.
The capture follows days of reports that militants were advancing on nearby villages. Despite those warnings, government forces appeared to make little effort to halt the advance.
The fall of the town allows Al-Shabaab to sever key supply lines to Masagawa and Eldher, in the central Galgadud region. Both towns are among the few remaining government-held areas seized during the army offensive launched in mid-2022.
Residents said militants overran military bases after hours of fighting, forcing government troops and allied fighters to withdraw.
There have been reports of air strikes by Somalia’s international partners in and around Nuur Dugle following its capture. However, details remain limited.
The latest developments suggest Al-Shabaab has resumed its counter-offensive, which began earlier this year before temporarily stalling after the group recaptured large swathes of territory across southern and central Somalia.
The Somali government has not yet commented on the loss of the town.
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