Reports confirmed that Somalia’s federal government military forces supported by local residents seized a vehicle carrying weapons mostly AK 47 heading to al-Shabab fighters in central Somali locality close to Beledweyne town, provincial city of Hiran Region in HirShabelle state administration on 19 January 2025.
The federal government captured the car in central Somali locality of Bardhere where they were conducting security-tightening operations during last two days and searching the cars to and from the locality. operation took place in the Bardhere area, where troops had been Mahamud Hassan Ibrahim Bakay, commander of the 5th Brigade, 27th Division of the Somali National Army, confirmed the capture of the weapon.
“Behind me are weapons seized from terrorists. This vehicle and its contents were new and intended for Al-Shabaab. We had intelligence on this shipment for two days and successfully intercepted it,” Commander Bakay said at a press briefing.
The vehicle’s driver fled the scene before security forces could apprehend him. Both the vehicle and weapons are now in the custody of the Somali military.
The operation comes days after Somalia’s federal government formally assumed full responsibility for the security of Beledweyne and its surrounding areas from local militia forces.
