Photo Credit: SONNA
Addis Abeba – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that Ethiopian forces “foiled an attack by the terrorist Al-Shabaab group in Dolow town on the Ethiopia-Somalia border.”
In a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he said, the militant group Al-Shabaab has failed in its terrorist act that it was planning carry out today in the Dolo area of the Ethio-Somalia border.”
Earlier, Somali media reported that Ethiopian National Defense Forces who are not part of the ATMIS but are supporting the Federal Government of Somalia’s campaign to eliminate Al -Shabab have thwarted an attack at their base in Dolow, located in southern Somalia.
“According to a senior Somalia National Army, who confirmed the incident, the first vehicle, a Toyota Surf Hilux, exploded at the entrance of the base, causing significant damage and injuring four soldiers,” SONNA reported, adding that “due to the swift and decisive actions of the Ethiopian forces, the second vehicle, a Suzuki SUV, was neutralized before reaching the base, averting any further harm.”
The Ministry Foreign Affairs said that “the Federal Defense Forces successfully foiled the group’s attempt to cause damage in the area by deploying snipers”, and that “members of the terrorist group were destroyed along with the weapons they brought with them.”
AT least 54 Ugandan peacekeepers in Somalia were killed when Al-Shabaab militants attacked an African Union base in Somalia in the last week of May in what is seen as one of the worst attacks by Al-Shabaab againist peacekeepers in recent years.
In 20 July last year, Al-Shabaab militants overrun the Somali region in Ethiopia after attacking Aato and Yeed, where Liyu police were encamped. Both towns are located in the Bakool region of southwestern Somalia and bordering Ethiopia.
The militants then entered through the Afdheer zone into the Somali region on the same day, according to the Somali Regional State Security Council. The council detailed that more than 100 members of Al-Shabaab militants were killed in a three-day operation against the group, adding, “13 vehicles were burnt and the weapons and supplies they [Al Shabaab] brought with them were seized”.
On the 25 July, reinforcement members of the ENDF were dispatched to join the Somali region’s security forces in the fight and According to Maj. Gen Tesfaye, the group attempted to attack through five different border areas, namely Yeed, Aato, El-Barde, Washaaqo, and Ferfer, however, they [Al-Shabaab units] were repulsed by security forces. AS