Somali Government forces retake villages in Hiiraan region

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The Somali National Army and the Hirshabelle State Police are carrying out operations against the Al Shabaab fighters in Hiiran region.

The planned operations were led by the governor of Hiran region, Ali Jayte Osman, accompanied by the mayors of Mahas and Mataban districts.

Military officials and Hiran administration officials said that al-Shabab militants have been expelled from areas they recently captured.

10 villages were liberated from al-Shabab militants, in the area between Mataban and Mahas.

On the 7th of August, Ethiopian warplanes bombarded the area.

In the past few weeks, al-Shabab militants have crossed the borders of Hiran and Bakol regions in Somalia, to attack the Somali autonomous region of Ethiopia.

Earlier this month, senior Ethiopian military officials visited Beledweyne, the capital of Hiran, to discuss operations against al-Shabab with the local authorities.

Last week, al-Shabab militants burned several villages in Hiran, putting pressure on the people living in the area.