MOGADISHU, May 30 (Xinhua) -- The African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) and Somali troops on Tuesday began a week-long training on mortar operations at a military base in the port city of Kismayo, southern region.
The ATMIS said the training which brought together its troops and Somalia's Danab Special Forces at the New Airport Forward Operating Base (FOB) provides a platform for the two forces to exchange knowledge and skills on mortar operations.
"It will cover a range of aspects such as target acquisition, range estimation, firing techniques, and safety procedures," said the ATMIS in a statement issued in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia.
The training is part of the ATMIS' mandate of capacitating Somalia's security forces to effectively utilize mortar systems to increase success in their operations, the AU mission said.
The ATMIS has stepped up training of the Somali security forces ahead of the June 30 withdrawal of 2,000 of its troops from its mission.
The AU mission has been conducting both joint targeted and routine operations to degrade the terror group al-Shabab which is engaging the government forces in near-daily attacks. It also provides security to enable humanitarian actors to deliver much-needed food and emergency relief items to communities in need and remote areas. ■