Somalia’s defense ministry said Somali National Army airstrikes, conducted with international partners, killed at least 30 al-Shabab militants and destroyed vehicles, weapons and training sites in Middle Shabelle.
Mogadishu (Somali Report) — At least 30 al-Shabab militants were killed in airstrikes carried out by the Somali National Army with support from international partners in the Middle Shabelle region, Somalia’s defense ministry said Friday.
The ministry said the strikes targeted al-Shabab positions in Gayfo, Ruun Idris and Ali Gaduud, areas where the group had established mobilization centers, training sites and storage facilities for weapons, ammunition and military equipment.
The first strike was carried out June 24 in the Gayfo area, where officials said militants had gathered and stored weapons. Three more strikes were conducted June 25, including attacks on what the ministry described as an al-Shabab training center in Ruun Idris and another militant position in Ali Gaduud.
The ministry said militants in Ali Gaduud had been preparing attacks against civilians and government targets. It did not identify the international partners involved in the operation.
In addition to the deaths, the strikes destroyed two vehicles, three motorcycles, weapons, ammunition and other equipment used by the group to plan and carry out attacks, the ministry said.
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Al-Shabab controls parts of rural central and southern Somalia and continues to carry out attacks despite years of military pressure from Somali forces and foreign partners.
The defense ministry thanked Somalia’s international partners, saying they played a significant role in supporting the operation.
The Somali National Army and allied local forces have been conducting operations in central Somalia as part of a wider campaign to weaken al-Shabab’s operational capacity, disrupt its supply routes and remove the group from rural strongholds.
Middle Shabelle has been a major focus of government military operations because of its proximity to Mogadishu and its importance as a movement corridor for militants operating in central Somalia. Al-Shabab has used rural areas in the region to regroup, train fighters and stage attacks.
The defense ministry said operations against al-Shabab would continue in areas where militants are hiding, with the goal of improving security and stability for Somali civilians.
There was no immediate comment from al-Shabab on the reported strikes, and casualty figures from military operations are often difficult to verify independently.
About the Author
Osman Hassan is a Senior Editor at the Somali Report based in Nairobi with over 15 years of experience in journalism. He has worked with local and international media outlets in Somalia and is an award-winning journalist. His reporting focuses on politics, security, and regional affairs in the Horn of Africa.
