Tuesday April 14, 2026
Mogadishu (HOL) — Somali national forces, backed by regional security units and international partners, killed 27 al-Shabab fighters in a large-scale operation in the Middle and Lower Juba regions, the Defense Ministry said Tuesday.
The ministry said the operations targeted militant positions in areas under the districts of Jilib, Hagar and Afmadow as ground forces advanced against the al-Qaida-linked group.
According to the statement, troops seized weapons, military equipment and landmines that the group had allegedly prepared for use against civilians and security forces.
The ministry said operations are ongoing to pursue remaining fighters and secure areas cleared during the offensive.
Al-Shabab has waged an insurgency against Somalia’s federal government for more than 16 years, carrying out bombings and targeted attacks against security personnel, government officials and civilians.
Since July, Somali forces with support from the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) and other international partners have intensified coordinated operations aimed at weakening the group’s operational capacity in southern and central regions.
