Photo: Stuart Price/UN Kismayo — Heavy clashes in the lower Jubba region have claimed the lives of more than 10 people from the battling sides as the allied forces continue the onslaught against al Shabaab for Kismayo, Garowe Online reports.
The town of Birta Dheer and Biibi were home to heavy clashes on Saturday and Friday as Al Shabaab and Somali alongside AMISOM forces battled furiously.
In an AMISOM press release they stated that they had taken control of the district of Biibi which was a strategic town that connected major districts in the lower Jubba region.
There have been reports of massive evacuations of towns and districts near Biibi and Birta Dheer were many residents fear they will be caught in the crossfire.
Allied forces have stalled in capturing the port city of Kismayo and have pushed back there deadlines.
The Al Shabaab militants have retreated from many strongholds in the lower Jubba region but still remain in control of Kismayo which has been shelled repeatedly over the past weeks.
A lieutenant in the Somali forces who spoke to GO under anonymity stated that the onslaught against Al Shabaab would continue and that there would be no stopping until Kismayo was captured.
"The operations will not stop until Kismayo is captured and we will keep this pace up until it is captured," said the lieutenant.
The port city of Kismayo was and is the remaining revenue generator for the terrorist organization and has been the allied forces main target for the past 3 months.
GAROWE ONLINE
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