MOGADISHU— In the wake of the recent chilling Al-Shabab assault on a military base in Central Somalia last week, a senior Somali Military Commander has gone missing for over seven days now, in a startling development which has left his colleagues and government officials perplexed.
Colonel Mukhtar Hassan Tifow, also known as Shah Macabe, was stationed at the strategically crucial military installation in Owsweyne, a sparsely populated settlement in Galgadud region that has witnessed regular attacks with Al-Shabaab in recent weeks.
The audacious attack began with a devastating suicide car bomb explosion, followed by a well-coordinated onslaught involving hundreds of al-Shabab fighters that overwhelmed the military base in an area recently liberated by allied Somali forces.
Military sources report that the senior commander who was leading two brigades was last seen in the midst of the battle, directing troops and attempting to regain control of the situation.
As the Al-Shabab militants descended upon the base with ruthless precision, eyewitnesses described a scene of pandemonium and terror.
Reports indicate that the insurgents overran the base’s defenses with unexpected ferocity, leading to a devastating loss of life among Somali military personnel and the fall of the base. However, as troops withdrew under the hail of heavy gunfire and explosions, the commander’s whereabouts became uncertain.
One week later, some of his family members and fellow colleagues have expressed grave concerns about his fate, with some suggesting that he may have perished during a fierce battle against Al-Shabaab insurgents, who have reportedly attempted to encircle him and his troops after seizing control of the base.
This brazen attack on the ill-fated military base unfolded amid chaotic scenes of soldiers fleeing for their lives during the assault, which tragically claimed the lives of over 100 soldiers.
The toll of the complex attack on the base has been devastating, with reports indicating that dozens more sustained injuries or have gone missing, further deepening the crisis.
REPORTS OF FRIENDLY FIRE
In the aftermath of the latest attack, one of multiple devastating attacks carried out by Al-Shabab in recent months, several sources within the government have speculated that Colonel Shah Macabe might have been inadvertently struck by friendly fire from a drone belong to an unidentified international partner. The Horn Examiner could not independently verify the veracity of the claims.
However, several military sources said that before he vanished amidst the chaos of the complex assault, the military Colonel and his surviving troops have reportedly retreated towards the northern direction of the base.
That movement, officials believe may have inadvertently caused the military drone to misidentify their position, thereby resulting in a tragic case of friendly fire by the UAV which might have mistakenly assumed them to be Al-Shabaab insurgents.
The attack on the base that raged for hours has raised concerns about the resurgence of Al-Shabab in the country and the security of military installations.
The Somali Government has been struggling to contain an uptick in insurgent activities and attacks, even as it has declared victory over the extremist group in recent months.
Both the National Army and the government have yet to comment on the attack and the fate of the missing commander, Colonel Shah Macabe.
Meanwhile , the families of the missing soldiers and officers, including the commander, who are anxiously awaiting any news about their fate, expressed growing concerns over the government’s complete silence on their whereabouts, casting a shadow of uncertainty over the disappearance of their loved ones.
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