Tuesday February 25, 2025
FILE – Somali National Army soldiers are seen in the Middle Shabelle region of Somalia, Dec. 10, 2012. (Stuart Price / AU-UN IST / AFP)
Mogadishu (HOL) — The Somali government announced Tuesday that more than 70 Al-Shabaab militants, including senior commanders, were killed in a large-scale military operation in Middle Shabelle, as government forces intensified efforts to reclaim territory from the extremist group.
The operation, which involved airstrikes and ground assaults, targeted militant hideouts in Adow-Guray (Hiiraan region), El Ali Ahmed, and Al Kowsar (Middle Shabelle region), according to the Ministry of Information. Government officials said the mission was launched preemptively to prevent an Al-Shabaab attack on civilian areas and security installations.
Security officials reported that Somali forces and local Ma’awisley militia successfully disrupted Al-Shabaab’s planned assault, killing dozens of fighters and forcing others to retreat. “More than 70 Al-Shabaab militants were eliminated in preemptive operations carried out by the National Army and local forces,” the ministry said in a statement.
During the operation, troops seized a cache of weapons and ammunition and destroyed armored vehicles used by the militants. Somali forces reportedly captured key positions that had served as strategic strongholds for the insurgents.
While the government claims to have inflicted heavy losses, officials acknowledged that assessments of enemy casualties and battlefield damage are ongoing. Independent verification remains difficult due to security restrictions in the conflict areas.
The latest military action is part of a national campaign launched by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud to weaken Al-Shabaab’s presence in central and southern Somalia. The Somali National Army (SNA), working alongside local militia and international partners, has made territorial advances over the past year, retaking towns and villages previously under militant control.
However, Al-Shabaab remains a formidable threat, frequently carrying out suicide bombings, assassinations, and ambushes targeting security forces and civilians. Despite losing ground in rural areas, the group continues to maintain sleeper cells in urban centers, including Mogadishu and has mobilized to retake villages under government control.
Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre vowed that the offensive against Al-Shabaab would continue until the extremist group is completely eliminated.
“The fight against Al-Shabaab will not stop until Somalia is free from their influence,” Barre said. “The bravery of our armed forces and local militia has dealt a major blow to the terrorists.”
The government urged Somali citizens, particularly in newly liberated areas, to cooperate with security forces by providing intelligence and resisting Al-Shabaab’s recruitment efforts. Officials emphasized that long-term stability depends on sustaining military gains and delivering essential services to regions recovering from militant rule.
The Somali government said further updates on the operation’s impact would be released in the coming days.
