Al-Shabaab commander held in C Somalia security operation

Somalia's national army backed by the Africa Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) forces on Wednesday arrested an Al-Shabaab commander in a security operation in Bula-Burte, Hiiraan region of central Somalia.

Abdulasis Durow, District Commissioner of Bula-Burte, said Moalim Hundow, a senior Al-Shabaab commander in the region, was the main target of the security forces.

"We have arrested Hundow, Al-Shabaab commander in the area who has been forcefully collecting levies from herdsmen and farmers. There was no other casualty. We will continue the fight against Al-Shabaab," Durow told journalists, adding that they will never allow the Al-Shabaab militants to collect unjustified levies on pastoralists.

He said the Somali and AU troops will intensify the war against Al-Shabaab militants to undermine their capacity to launch attacks against civilians in the Horn of Africa state.

Al-Shabaab insurgents lost key towns including Bulo-Burte last year to AMISOM forces. Enditem