Friday April 10, 2026
Mogadishu (HOL) — Somali National Army forces, working with international partners, carried out an airstrike in the Mudug region that killed about 70 al-Shabab fighters and wounded dozens more, the Ministry of Defense said on Thursday.
The intelligence-led operation targeted what officials described as a major militant gathering near Tawarmooge, approximately 8 kilometers south of Aad and 45 kilometers north of Harardhere in central Somalia.
Preliminary assessments indicate that around 70 fighters were killed, including several senior commanders, while between 90 and 95 others were injured. The casualty figures could not be independently verified.
Officials also said eight vehicles were destroyed in the strike, including trucks believed to be transporting weapons and other military supplies. The ministry said the destruction of the vehicles disrupted the group’s logistics and reduced its operational capacity in the area.
The Ministry of Defense reiterated its commitment to intensifying military pressure on al-Shabab, which the government refers to as “Khawaarij,” a term it uses for the al-Qaida-linked militant group.
Mudug region has been a key battleground in Somalia’s ongoing campaign against al-Shabab, which continues to stage attacks despite sustained offensives by government and allied forces.
