Battle of Jowhar

Coordinates: 2°46′48″N 45°30′08″E / 2.78000°N 45.50222°E / 2.78000; 45.50222
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Battle of Jowhar
Part of the
technical with an anti aircraft gun after arriving in Jowhar
DateDecember 27, 2006
Location
Near Jowhar, Somalia
Result Ethiopian/TFG victory
Belligerents
Foreign Mujahideen
Transitional Federal Government
 Ethiopia[1][2]

The Battle of Jowhar took place during the

Transitional Federal Government (TFG) forces for control of the town of Jowhar (located at 2°46′48″N 45°30′08″E / 2.78000°N 45.50222°E / 2.78000; 45.50222). It began on December 27, 2006, when retreating ICU forces regrouped near their stronghold of Jowhar.[3] It became the last major town and strategic stronghold of the ICU to fall to Ethiopian and TFG forces before the latter overtook Mogadishu two days later.[3]

Background

After failing to contain the TFG/Ethiopian push in the

ARPCT in June, had become a stronghold of the ICU and was where many had retreated to. Hundreds of civilian refugees fled Jowhar in anticipation of the fighting, adding to humanitarian concerns created by floods, hunger and disease.[3][4]

Battle

Reports from

Mohammed Dheere, led the assault.[5]

At 10:00am, ICU forces were reported pulling out of town.[6] At 10:30am, witnesses reported seeing heavily armed Ethiopian troops with tanks entering the former ICU stronghold. Casualties are unknown at this time.[7] Some reports say that ICU soldiers left without putting up a fight. According to one witness, ICU troops later retreated from the town before Ethiopian troops could advance.[5]

However, fighting could still be heard at a military camp south of Jowhar.[5]

Aftermath

The loss of Jowhar led the ICU to retreat further to Balad in middle Shabelle province, a town 30 kilometres away from Mogadishu. This created chaos in the town, according to some sources, including looting.[7]

Returning warlord

Leego
. Fighting was also reported at a military camp south of Jowhar.

After the battle in Jowhar, thousands of Ethiopian and government-allied Somali troops, accompanied by tanks, continued south towards Balad, the next major town on the road to the capital (30 km, 18 miles north of Mogadishu). They were reported passing through Qalimow village (40 km, 25 miles north of Balad) by a local resident.[9] Later in the day, they were reported to be occupying Balad, where the column halted any advancements to avoid causing civilian casualties in Mogadishu.[10]

See also

  • Somalia War (2006–2009)

References

  1. ^ Ethiopia admits Somalia offensive BBC News
  2. ^ Ethiopian Jets Bomb Airports in Somalia Archived 2006-12-24 at the Wayback Machine VOA News
  3. ^ a b c d Ethiopian, Somali government troops force Islamic fighters to retreat from strategic city International Herald Tribune
  4. ^ Ethiopians take key Somali town BBC News
  5. ^ a b c Ethiopian, Somali Troops Regain Jowhar CBS
  6. ^ SOMALIA: UN warns of humanitarian crisis as aid flights suspended IRIN
  7. ^ a b Somalia: ICU loses Jowhar, another key town 90KM from Mogadishu Archived January 17, 2007, at the Wayback Machine SomaliNet
  8. ^ Battles continue[permanent dead link] 7Days
  9. ^ Ethiopian, Somali troops regain Jowhar Associated Press
  10. ^ Pro-govt troops to besiege Mogadishu - Somali envoy Reuters

External links

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