Thursday March 20, 2025
FILE – Somali National Army (SNA) soldiers patrol a rural area in an undisclosed location in March 2022.
Mogadishu (HOL) — Somali government forces killed several Al-Shabaab commanders and militants in a targeted military operation in the Middle Shabelle region while repelling a pre-dawn assault by the extremist group in Lower Shabelle, officials said Thursday.
The Somali National Army (SNA) carried out a planned nighttime raid in Sumadaale, Middle Shabelle, where Al-Shabaab leaders and fighters had gathered for a meeting. The government said its forces, acting on intelligence, stormed the site and eliminated all militants present.
“This (latest) operation was executed as planned, and all the leaders and militants present were eliminated after failing to escape the government’s special forces,” Somalia’s Ministry of Information said in a statement. The raid lasted several hours and ended successfully, the statement added.
Hours after the Sumadaale operation, Al-Shabaab militants launched an attack on Somali military positions in Sabiid and Caanoole, Lower Shabelle. Government troops repelled the assault, which led to heavy casualties among the insurgents.
“The national heroes, who were on high alert, immediately repelled the Khawarij attack, leading to a battle that lasted several hours and resulted in the total destruction of the enemy. The militants fled the battlefield, leaving behind the bodies of dozens of their fighters,” the ministry said.
Al-Shabaab, an al-Qaida-affiliated group fighting to overthrow the Somali government, has intensified attacks on military targets in recent months. The militant group has also carried out deadly bombings in Mogadishu and other regions, despite losing key territories to government and allied forces.
The Somali government praised the army’s recent victories and reaffirmed its commitment to ongoing counterterrorism operations in partnership with local forces and international allies. Officials extended condolences to soldiers killed in battle and well wishes to the wounded.
“With the cooperation of the Somali people and international partners, the Somali National Army remains committed to eliminating Al-Shabaab from the country,” the ministry’s statement read.
