Al-shabab terrorists have attacked numerous trucks in Somalia’s central Hiiraan region, at least 20 people were killed, including women and children, and food supplies were destroyed.
The Islamist terrorist group ambushed a truck transporting food in the Hiran district early Saturday, killing civilians. According to officials, the organization assaulted a humanitarian convoy, killing 17, and then targeted civilian rescuers with landmines, killing five more.
Why does this matter?
Somalia is experiencing its worst drought in a decade and is battling food and water crisis. Millions are going hungry and many were forced to flee their homes in search of food and water and the majority of families were going without meals on a regular basis.
Who are the Al-shabab?
Al-Shabab, an Islamist terrorist group, is fighting the UN-backed government in Somalia and has carried out a series of attacks across the region. The gang, which is affiliated with al-Qaeda, has been driven out of most of the major towns it formerly ruled, but it remains a formidable force.
Al-Shabab is Arabic word for ” The Youth.”
It arose as the extremist youth wing of Somalia’s now-defunct Union of Islamic Courts, which ruled Mogadishu until it was driven out by Ethiopian forces in 2006. There have been several allegations of foreign jihadists from neighboring countries and the United States and Europe travelling to Somalia to assist al-Shabab.
The United States and the United Kingdom have designated it as a terrorist organization, and it is estimated to have between 7,000 and 9,000 combatants.
What you should know
Al-Shabab, an Islamist terrorist group, has stated that it is targeting a government-affiliated armed group. The threat from al-Shabab terrorists seeking to overthrow the central government grows.
They have also threatened and carried attacks in Kenya and other neighboring countries. The al-Qaeda-linked group controls much of southern and central Somalia, but has expanded its influence into areas controlled by the government, which is located in Mogadishu.