Bardhere — Hundreds of Ethiopian troops and Somali militias led by Col. Barre Aden Shire reached in Bardhere town some 490 km west of Mogadishu, witnesses said on Tuesday.
Col. Barre addressed the people in Bardhere district in Gedo region and vowed they will continue fighting to force the Islamists out of Gedo region.
The Ethiopian troops made bases in the north side of the town. Earlier Islamists who were controlling the town left.
On the other hand Ethiopian troops with more military trucks attacked Dinsor district in Bay region and captured the town from Al-shabab insurgent group.
Residents, who took refuge in the bush from the Ethiopian soldiers told radio Shabelle that the Ethiopian troops met strong resistance from the insurgents, but they could not confirm any casualties.
The Ethiopian soldiers have been keep coming and going in and out of Somalia for the last three weeks.
Ethiopia invaded Somalia in 2006 to rescue an embattled transitional administration and oust the Islamic Courts Union, which had taken control of most of the country.
Ethiopia's continued presence in Somalia has been one of the main grievances expressed by the Islamist insurgents and allied clan militias.
Many Somali intellectuals in the capital Mogadishu said Ethiopia is not committed to withdraw its troops from Somalia.
Abshir Nor Farah, an intellectual and poet, said that Ethiopia will not pull out its troops from Somalia with negotiating, but he indicated fighting is the only way that can persuade Ethiopia to pull out its troops from Somalia.