Somali government forces with the support of African Union troops have this morning captured three strategic towns from the al-Qaeda affiliated terror group al-Shabaab.
In simultaneous operations, the joint forces faced little resistance as they secured the towns of Janalle, Aw Dhigle and Barire, located South West of the Somali capital, Mogadishu, along the Shabelle River.
The key towns are situated along a key insurgent supply route linking the al-Shabaab controlled port of Baraawe with militant concentrations in Burhakaba in Central Somalia. The terror group also used this route to infiltrate fighters back into previously secured areas, threatening the safety of the populations living there.