Ethiopia has reportedly sent a large force to the vicinity of Ferfer town in the Hiran region of central Somalia.
The troops are expected to reinforce the ongoing military offensive against Al Shabab in both the Hiran and Middle Shabelle regions.
This deployment follows a series of Al Shabab attacks, during which the group captured several areas in Middle Shabelle.
Since mid-last month, Al Shabab has stepped up its attacks, despite continued airstrikes in the region.
Last week, Ethiopian military fighter jets conducted airstrikes against militants in the Middle Shabelle region.
The Somali Ministry of Defense confirmed Ethiopia’s involvement in the ongoing military operation.
The ministry said this follows a recent Somalia-Ethiopia agreement for 2,500 Ethiopian forces in the new African Union peace mission.
Somali National Army forces and Ma’awisley fighters are mobilizing to stop Al Shabab’s advances and reclaim newly reoccupied areas.
Driven out of Mogadishu in 2011, Al Shabab, the al-Qaeda-linked group, continues to carry out deadly attacks.
For over a decade, the group has been battling to impose a hardline interpretation of Sharia law in Somalia.
Al Shabab still controls large swaths of southern and central Somalia.
