Somaliland: Army seize Tukaraq town in Sool region in the hands of militia loyal to Khaatumo State separatist group
The Somaliland military have seized a strategic territory near the Somalia border following an offensive against an outlawed separatist rebel on Saturday.
The fighting erupted in the early hours of Saturday in the small but strategic town of Tukaraq in Sool region, some 30 kilometers south of the provincial capital Las Anod.
Eyewitnesses in Tukaraq said they heard heavy gunfire from the fighting but there were no casualties on both sides. They confirmed that Somaliland forces were in control of the town and that the militia loyal to Khaatumo State separatist group had fled.
Locals reported that the Somaliland forces passed the town southward and reached the near by village of Yo’da where they captured a pickup truck carrying rebel fighters. It is believed that they have taken a number of fighters into custody .
The group claims that they are fighting for unity with neighboring Somalia and have been engaged a series of hit-and-run attacks against the state military. Khaatumo rebels insist that the regions of Sool, Sanaag and Buhodle must remain part of sovereign territory of Somalia.