Battle of Gedo The Battle of Gedo is an ongoing conflict of the 2009 – phase of the Somali Civil War . Centered in the region of Gedo , it pits the Somali government and its allies against the al - Qaeda - aligned militant group Al - Shabaab . Timeline . April 27 , 2011 . The fighting started after Somali forces ambushed Al shabaab fighters in Tulo - Barwaqo , near Garbaharey . He claimed they killed around 20 fighters from their opposing side . On the road between Elberde and Luuq a roadside mine killed 15 people . The landmine detonated underneath a minibus , killing nine passengers immediately . Six passengers subsequently died from blood loss . In Tulo - Barwaqo , Ahlu Sunna wa al Jama ’ a fighters clashed with al Shabaab militants an Ahlu Sunna spokesman , reported that Ahlu Sunna fighters captured “ assault rifles , pistols , explosive devices and … two military vehicles ” and had killed about twenty al Shabaab militants . In Luuq , Al Shabaab attacked Transitional Federal Government troopsusing hit - and - run tactics , killing four soldiers . In Elwak , Al Shabaab ambushed government soldiers , killing ten . One military vehicle belonging to Somali military forces was burnt , and two others were damaged by gunshots in the skirmish . April 28 , 2011 . Some 36 Al shabaab fighters have been killed after fighting with Somali army in the village of Tulo Barwaqo just outside of Garbaharey town . Al shabaab have launched an ambush attack on Somali forces in Gedo region . Al shabaab are said to have ambushed government forces flanked by military vehicles at the village of Kured just outside of Luuq District . At least 5 persons , all the combatants , were killed and dozens more injured during the confrontation . 27 gunmen from pro - government Ahlu Sunna Waljama group were killed in the skirmishes this day and 8 transitional government troops . April 29 , 2011 . in Luuq , Al shabaab fighters have ambushed Somali army , killing at least 10 people , mostly from the combatants , and injured dozens more . A total of 24 Somali forces lost their lives and two military vehicles were destroyed that day . April 30 , 2011 . Clash erupted in the village of Burgadud near Garbaharey when Somali forces launched premeditated attacks on Al shabaab fighters , at last 6 government soldiers were wounded . Somali troops and ASWJ forces took over the cities of Tulo Barwaqo and Garbaharey when Al Shabaab fighters reportedly abandoned the towns . At the same time Al shabaab claim victory in these fighting . At least 10 Al shabaab fighters have been killed during the confrontations and two military vehicles from Ahlu Sunna Waljama were reported seized . May 01 , 2011 . Heavy fighting is still continuing in Gedo . In Af - barwaqo and Buurgudud villages , At least 10 persons were killed and 14 others wounded . The Spokesman of Al - Shabab , Sheikh Abdiaziz abu Mus ’ ab said his fighters seized four pick - up cars from government forces including one battle wagon . May 02 , 2011 . Early in the morning Al Shabaab forces launched an attack on Garbaharey , they tried to seize the city but failed to . At least 75 Al Shabaab fighters have been killed by Somali troops and ASWJ forces . According to the Somali Government , Al Shabaab high - level commander Fuaad Shongole was killed in these clashes . Only Baardheere and Buur Dhuubo are still in Al Shabaabs hands . May 03 , 2011 . Somali troops ambushed Al Shabaab militias and pushed the insurgents out of a village named Meykaareeb 19 kilometers west from Garbaharey . Government troops killed 15 Al Shabaab insurgents during these operations and seized two pick - up cars from Al Shabaab forces . On afternoon Al Shabaab launched an ambush attack against Somali military killing 8 ASWJ soldiers and at least 10 Al shabaab fighters were also killed . In Garbaharey , three persons from one family were killed after a mortar shelling destroyed their home . May 04 , 2011 . In Garbaharey , aleast 70 people , mainly the combatants were killed in heavy fighting between Al Shabaab forces and Somali soldiers . May 05 , 2011 . Sheikh Abdi - aziz Abu Mus ’ ab , the spokesman of Al shabaab claimed that the chairman on ASWJ in Gedo , Sheikh Hassan Sheikh Ahmed ( Qoryoley ) , died from his wounds sustained from ambush attack in Garbaharey . Sheikh Isaq Hussein , an Ahlu Sunna officer , confirmed the death . May 06 , 2011 . Nine people ( six children and three adults ) have been killed by a landmine explosion in the Gedo region in an unspecified city . May 07 , 2011 . Somali forces have left the Gusar village following a problem on the payment of their salaries . The Al - Shabab ' s forces took over the village after that . May 10 , 2011 . Witnesses in Beled Haawo , Garbaharey , Ceelwaaq and Luuq saw Somali troops accompanied by ASWJ forces leaving in the early morning and heading to Al Shabaab strongholds . Later that day Somali forces seized four villages close to Baardheere , Al Shabaab ' s biggest and last stronghold in Gedo . Al Shabaab did not put up a fight and withdrew once they saw that they were outnumbered by Somali Armed Forces . May 13 , 2011 . Ahlu Sunna Waljama ' a forces ambushed Al Shabaab militias in a village near Garbaharey named Kalabeyr , Al Shabaab fled the village after ASWJ forces killed 3 Al Shabaab soldiers and seized some weapons from Al Shabaab . Ahlu Sunna Waljama ' a Maxamed Xuseen Al - Qaaddi told radio Shabelle that ASWJ forces are controlling Kalabeyr after Al Shabaab lost the battle . May 14 , 2011 . In the village of Banmudalo near Luuq clashed beginning between Somali interim government troops and Al shabaab fighters . At least two people have been killed . May 15 , 2011 . Al shabaab forces has pounded volleys of mortars to the town of Garbaharey , No deaths or injuries were reported . Some residents started to flee from their home against of back of new more fighting could again renew from the area . June 13 , 2011 . Almost 1000 Somali troops finished training in Doolow , these troops will be deployed in Gedo resuming the offensive . October 11 , 2012 . Columns of armoured vehicles and military pick - up trucks carrying fresh Ethiopian troops have reportedly reached Somalia ’ s border town of Luq located in Gedo province . Somali National Army ( SNA ) commanders in the area say the Ethiopian troops set up military bases on the suburbs of the town , where they are planning major offensive against the remaining towns and locations controlled by al Qaeda - linked militants of al Shabaab . October 15 , 2012 . Al Shabaab fighters have been reported to making their last preparation to defend Bardera district of Gedo region in southern Somalia from the allied forces led by the Somali Military . October 29 , 2012 . The government has declared Luq town , Gedo region , and its environ safe and secure and urged aid agencies to open their offices in the area . Area district commissioner Abdullahi Kuredow said security in the district has been bolstered and now reliable . He said Somali forces backed by Ethiopian troops and their allied Ahlu Sunna militias are now in full control of the entire district . November 10 , 2012 . At least two people have been killed in a fierce battle between Somali National Army ( SNA ) and al Shabaab militants in Gedo province , the latest in surge of attacks in the southwestern region . The violence reportedly erupted after heavily armed al Shabaab fighters launched a surprise assault on Somali forces at a checkpoint located on the outskirts of Garbaharey , a town largely controlled by Somali government . January 2 , 2013 . Reports from Bardhere town of Gedo region indicate the withdrawal of al Shabaab leadership from the town Local residents told Bar - kulan that the town is in a state of panic as the al Shabaab fighters prepare for an assault from government and allied forces . Among the fleeing leaders are foreigners , the residents told Bar - kulan . Bardhere is remaining stronghold of al Shabaab militants . The town is approached by government troops and Kenya Defence Forces .