Local residents heard large explosions about 9am on Sunday followed by heavy gunfire near the town of Rab Dhuure in Bakool region, about 20km from the Ethiopia border. Al-Shabab claimed to have ambushed a large convoy of Ethiopian troops, who are operating in the area as part of regional efforts to wipe out the militant group. "We heard about three huge explosions and then an exchange of heavy guns followed," local resident Hassan Abdulle said. "It was a fierce fighting with shells and other weapons but we don't know the details," said Fatuma Ali, who lives in Rab Dhuure. In February Djibouti, Ethiopia and Kenya agreed to begin what they described as "search and destroy" operations against al-Shabab, in addition to the African Union-mandated peacekeeping force, which is expected to leave Somalia by the end of next year.

Source: Ethiopian News September 17, 2023 17:11 UTC