Col.Osman Dubad Hil, AMISOM commander in Hiran told Sunatimes that the operations will target areas outside Beletweyne, headquarter of the region.

The commander didn’t specify when the military operation will commence.

Col. Hil urged Al-shabaab fighters to accept defeat and surrender to the government and AMISOM forces.

AMISOM currently controls only Beletweyn town in Hiran region.

In June 2012, Djiboutian soldiers were deployed under AMISOM to take over the security operation. The final platoon of 50 soldiers arrived in Beletweyn on November 28th, bringing the number of troops on the ground to 1,000.

Security in the town has improved significantly since then.

Ethiopian forces have captured the town from Al-shabaab militants in December last year.