MOGADISHU, Somalia – Heavily armed al Qaeda linked al-Shabaab militants have taken control of Af-Urur, a strategic village, 90 km south of Bossaso town.
The militants seized the area following the withdrawal of Puntland forces over unknown reason.
Af-Urur was a military base for Puntland
June 7, 2017, more than 60 people, including 45 Puntland forces were killed when militants launched a deadly dawn raid on an army base in Af-Urur.
The militants also moved into Galgala mountains.
The seizure comes as United States military increased its airstrikes targeting al Shabaab and Islamic State groups around the mountains.
The US military said it had carried out its 7th strike targeting the Islamic State group around the mountains for the last month.
