Friday April 4, 2025

Kismayo (HOL) – Jubbaland regional authorities have deployed a large contingent of Jubbaland Dervish Force to northern parts of the Lower Juba region, where Al-Shabaab remains active, as part of ongoing operations to liberate the area from militant control.

State-run television aired footage on Thursday showing the heavily armed regional forces mobilizing to the frontlines, joining efforts led by Somali government forces and international partners.

The latest deployment follows a recent joint offensive in which Danab Commandos and Jubbaland Dervish units dismantled an Al-Shabaab stronghold in the region, delivering a significant blow to the group’s presence in northern Lower Juba.

Jubbaland officials say the intensified campaign targets Al-Shabaab-controlled zones across both Lower and Middle Juba, aiming to fully reclaim the areas and restore civilian governance.

Last month, the Somali government—with support from international allies—launched a major airstrike on Jilib, Al-Shabaab’s main base of operations in southern Somalia, reportedly inflicting heavy casualties and disrupting the group’s leadership network.