MOGADISHU, Somalia (Banaadir24) — The Somali National Army, in coordination with elite Danab commandos and international military partners, launched a series of offensives this week targeting al-Shabab strongholds in the country’s south and southwest, officials said.
On Wednesday, a joint force executed precision airstrikes on militant positions in Maqooqaha, a remote area situated roughly 100 kilometers northwest of Kismayo in the Lower Jubba region. The Ministry of Defense reported that at least 25 al-Shabab fighters were killed and a major command node was destroyed during the operation.
“These were high-value targets coordinating attacks against civilians and infrastructure,” said Colonel Abdirahman Sheikh, a spokesperson for the Somali Armed Forces. “We acted on credible intelligence and neutralized their operational base without civilian casualties.”
The airstrike was the latest in a series of escalating military actions designed to weaken the al-Qaeda-linked group, which has maintained a deadly insurgency across much of southern Somalia for more than a decade.
In a separate ground offensive on Thursday, Somali infantry units swept through El-Jedow, a village in the Wajid district of Bakool region, flushing out militant elements believed to be regrouping in the area. According to field reports, several insurgents were killed or wounded, and military engineers seized vehicles, small arms, and communication equipment.
“The operation in Wajid was swift and surgical,” said Lieutenant Ayaanle Hassan, who led the ground unit. “We have regained control of key terrain and are now securing nearby settlements to prevent re-infiltration.”
There was no immediate comment from al-Shabab’s media channels regarding the losses.
The twin operations come amid renewed efforts by Somalia’s federal government to reassert control over contested areas ahead of the African Union troop drawdown scheduled for later this year. Officials say more joint missions are expected in coming weeks, focusing on both kinetic strikes and stabilization campaigns.
Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, who has made the fight against al-Shabab a cornerstone of his administration, praised the operations in a statement released Friday. “The Somali people deserve to live in peace. These victories show that our forces—backed by our allies—are delivering results,” he said.
Despite years of international support, Somalia’s security forces remain stretched thin, and large portions of rural territory remain under al-Shabab control. However, observers note a recent uptick in momentum on the government side, particularly following a wave of U.S.-assisted drone operations earlier this year.
Humanitarian groups have urged all sides to minimize civilian harm and ensure safe access for aid workers operating in conflict-prone regions.
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