LAS ANOD —(Somalilandpress/Berberanews)-Heavy fighting between Somaliland troops and a tribal militia broke out early early Sunday morning in the village of Sool-Joogto in Buhoodle region and in the outskirt of Tukaraq village where Somaliland forces are stationed. The battle erupted after tribal militia loyal to Somalia’s former Prime Minister, Ali Khalif Galayr launched pre-dawn surprise assault on Somaliland military bases in the outskirts of Buhoodle town and on the outskirt of Tukaraq Village. The militia attacked Somaliland forces from two different directions in an attempt to over take Somaliland forces current strategic positions, however the army was aware of the militia’s movement in the last couple of days and was able to overpower.
Eyewitnesses who spoke with SomalilandPress reporter Ahmed Hussein based in Buhoodle have confirmed that the fighting was heavy and that residents were fleeing from Buhoodle town and the surrounding villages as Somaliland army was pushing the militia back towards Buhoodle. The exact number of people injured or killed in the fresh battle on both sides is not yet known as the fighting is still going on in the late hours of the evening.
Speaking to the press in Hargeisa, Somaliland’s minister of defense Ahmed Hajji Ali Adami said the army caught the militia’s top commander, the finance minister of the so call Khatoma leadership in the fighting. Also 42 militants, 3 battle wagons and 5 commercial trucks have also been confiscated from the militia.
Somalilandpress
