Friday May 15, 2026
Mogadishu (HOL) — Somali government forces killed at least 50 al-Shabab fighters and armed militia during a coordinated military operation on the outskirts of Baidoa, the Ministry of Defense said Friday.
The ministry said the operation followed an ambush early Thursday on government troops patrolling the area. Senior Somali military commanders were killed in the attack.
The Defense Ministry accused militias loyal to former Southwest State President Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen of fighting alongside al-Shabab, saying the militant group’s claim of responsibility for the ambush showed “direct cooperation” between the two sides.
“The Ministry of Defense confirms that the ambush was carried out by militias loyal to Abdiaziz Laftagareen, who have directly merged with the Khawarij of al-Shabab,” the ministry said, using the government’s term for the militant group. “The Khawarij’s claim of the attack shows that these militias have become a supporter of terrorism, and a threat to national security and stability in the Southwest regions.”
HOL could not independently confirm the claim that forces loyal to Abdiaziz Laftagareen fought alongside Al-Shabaab militants.
The ministry did not immediately release the names of the senior commanders killed in the ambush or provide details on the number of government casualties.
The government said it would not tolerate armed groups “that use security for political gain” and warned that legal action would be taken against anyone who supports or works with al-Shabab.
The ministry offered condolences to the families of soldiers killed in Thursday’s attack, describing them as “heroes who died defending the nation.”
The fighting comes amid rising political tension in Southwest State, where disputes over regional power, elections and security arrangements have deepened divisions among federal officials, regional leaders and opposition-linked figures.
Baidoa, the interim capital of Southwest State, remains a key political and military hub in Somalia’s campaign against al-Shabab. The militant group continues to stage ambushes and attacks despite ongoing operations by Somali forces and allied partners.
