Tuesday March 18, 2025
Mogadishu (HOL) – Units of the Somali Police Force have been deployed to the frontlines in the Middle Shabelle region to reinforce ongoing military operations against Al-Shabaab.
Somali Police Force Commander Major General Asad Osman Abdullahi and Deputy Commander General Osman Abdullahi Mohamed oversaw the departure of the police units from Mogadishu, urging them to support other forces in the fight against the militant group.
“Al-Shabaab are young boys who are afraid and have no people. They want to blow themselves up and kill themselves, but you have leaders who love you and are ready to defend your rights and the Somali nation that supports you,” Commander Asad told the troops in an encouraging speech.
He further emphasized the religious significance of their mission, stating, “It is the month of Ramadan. The war you are waging should be a form of worship for you—to liberate your country and people from the enemy. We wish you victory.”
The police forces sent to the frontlines have undergone extensive counterterrorism training, both domestically and internationally, through Turkish government agencies.
The deployment follows the recent mobilization of the Somali Custodial Corps to Middle Shabelle. General Mahad Abdirahman, commander of the Custodial Corps, urged his troops to uphold their duties and maintain the frontlines in the ongoing battle against Al-Shabaab.
The latest reinforcements come as major military operations intensify in Middle Shabelle and Hiiraan, marking one of the most significant offensives against Al-Shabaab in two years. Government reports indicate that Somali forces have killed nearly 200 Al-Shabaab militants over the past two months.
