Al-Naba issue 439 : special report about the military campaign against Al-Shabaab soldiers on Eastern Somalia

 

Alessandra Ciffo  

 

 

On Al-Naba issue 439, the Islamic State (IS) dedicated a spot with a special report and infographic about the military campaign with bombing and fires against the Al-Shabaab militia, especially in their positions in the Cal Miskaad mountains range in Northern Somalia at the end of the Ramadan month, which occurred to be around the first two weeks of April, which led the killing and wounding more than 50 Al-Shabaab militants, the seizing various weapons and ammunition, and the control of the zone. 

It has been reported, besides the bombing and clashes, the intensification against the Al-Qaeda militia, however, IS fighters attempted to advise them multiple times during the past two months, repeatedly calling on Al-Shabaab members and a few leaders to “repent of their apostasy” warning them of the consequences of “continuing to walk in this dark tunnel in the shadows of subordination and loyalty to the apostate Taliban militia…, but these calls were met every time with arrogance and aggression.”

The IS also mentioned the most notable armed operations that occurred recently against the Al-Shabaab soldiers.

The first attack happened back on 24/ Shaaban, which corresponds to March 5^th, 2024,  in the Arabi area, Somalia, using various weapons against Al-Shabaab positions, which led to the killing and wounding of 16 members, the seizure of quantities of weapons and ammunition, and the control of the positions. 

Next, on 21/ Ramadan, which corresponds to March 31st, 2024,  near Jais village, known to be “full of weapons and miscellaneous,” the mujahideen targeted Al-Shabaab militias, killing and injuring  10 members, including a leader, and seizing weapons. 

Amaq News Agency : Wilayah al-Sham Homs killed 20 Liwa al-Quds militia in an ambush in al-Sukhna desert road, Homs Governorate

  

Alessandra Ciffo

 

On April  20th, through Amaq News Agency, the Islamic State claimed responsibility for the ambush attack that happened on April 18th against the Liwa al-Quds militia[1] vehicle traveling on the al-Sukhna desert road, eastern Homs governorate, Central Syria, in which dozens of them were killed.

Amaq News Agency reported that on Thursday, April 18th, Wilayah al-Sham Homs mujahideen prepared a complex ambush towards a Liwa al-Quds militia vehicle, which was traveling across the al-Sukhna desert road, in eastern Homs Governorate. They targeted the wheel with heavy machine gun fire, which led to the overturning of the vehicle and the killing of several Liwa al-Quds militia members.

         

It has been stated that after the overturn of the vehicle, the Wilayah al-Sham Homs militants killed those who survived the targeted attack, including a few of those who attempted to escape from the area, resulting in the killing of at least 20 soldiers, and also seizing around 12 rifles.

The al-Sukhna desert area, the axes, and the roads nearby, passing through the Homs Governorate and connecting with the Deir ez-Zor Governorate, such as the M20 road, is known to be a very likely battleground for IS similar modus operandi attack towards Syrian Forces and militias vehicles and patrols.

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[1] The Liwa al-Quds militia, also known as the Jerusalem Brigade, is a Syrian Palestinian Brigade formed in 2013 by  Col. Muhammad al-Sa'eed in the Palestinian refugee camp al-Nayrab near Aleppo, which operates with the Syrian Armed Forces in the Syrian Civil War.

Amaq News Agency : 5 official IS photo reports showing ISWAP celebrations of Eid al-Fitr in different areas

  

Alessandra Ciffo

 

From April  12th to April 14th, on Amaq News Agency the Islamic State (IS) released 5 photo reports showing moments of  Eid al-Fitr celebrations, which all belonged to West Africa Province (ISWAP) in different areas under its control, such as Krinwa region, Sambisa forests, Timbuktu Triangle, [1] Lake Chad Region, and Banki town, in Northeastern Nigeria, on the borders with Cameroon and Chad.  

The first ISWAP photo report shows in 17 photos Eid al-Fitr in the borders of the Buhaira area, Northern Nigeria, from the Lake Chad sub-province.

The official IS second 13 images photo report published shows Eid al-Fitr of the ISWAP sub-province in the borders of the Al-Farouq area, in the Timbuktu Triangle, Northeastern Nigeria, where through the observation of the material six different cells are likely appearing,  then,  the third 7 images photo report was referring to the ISWAP militants in the Kirenowa area, near Cameroon borders, Borno State, Nigeria. 

The fourth IS official photo report is composed of 6 footage showing the Eid al-Fitr celebration of ISWAP mujahideen in Sambisa, Nigeria,  where through the evidence collected, it has been observed three diverse cells, and the fifth ISWAP photo report, which shows 6 images of the Eid al-Fitr from Banki in Nigeria. 

 

As part of the IS official propagandistic materials, these  ISWAP Amaq News Agency photo reports consist of evidence of the West Africa Province's control over these areas, which the IS wilayah has already settled for several years by now through the establishment of IS administration systems in a few local government jurisdictions, despite the Nigerian Army and National Security Forces attempt and measures to counter response and secure the Northern area. 

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[1] the Timbuktu Triangle is a region characterized by bushes, deserted vegetation, tall grasses, and deserted open lands. It spans across four local government areas in Borno State (Damboa, Jere, Kaga, and Konduga) and one in Yobe (Gujba).