... as opposed to the more usual name-calling or slapsy...
erupted Sunday in the Basra area of Middle Shabelle region, about 30 to 35 kilometres from Mogadishu, between Somali government forces and al-Shabaab
... the personification of Somali state failure...holy warriors.
The festivities entered their sixth consecutive day, with both sides using heavy weapons, residents said. Sustained gunfire and explosions were heard in areas around the battlefield as fighting continued.
The number of casualties remained unclear, with access to the area restricted and the fighting still ongoing. The situation of civilians living near the conflict zone was also a concern.
Somali government and local forces have stepped up operations against al-Shabaab in recent weeks, particularly in Middle and Lower Shabelle. The operations are aimed at driving the Death Eaters from areas where they maintain a presence and disrupting their ability to launch attacks.
The operations have also involved Somalia’s National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) and Danab special forces, which have carried out planned and intelligence-led missions in central and southern Somalia. The government has reported holy warrior deaths in recent operations in Lower Shabelle, Hiiraan, Middle Shabelle and Bay regions.