The troops were assisted by local militias, integrated and armed by the government of President Hassan Shaykh Mohamud to combat the Al Shabab group, the government’s adversary in the attempt to regain control of the country, in chaos since the overthrow of former president Mohamed Siad Barre in 1995.

The Infantry had air support and among the casualties were commanders of Al Shabab (The Youth, in Arabic) loyal to the Al Qaeda network.

jrr/arm/arc/ms