Saturday January 3, 2026
Mogadishu (HOL) — Somali government forces, backed by organized local community fighters, repelled an al-Shabab attack on the Wargaadhi area of the Middle Shabelle region on Friday, killing a senior militant commander and forcing the remaining fighters to flee, the Defense Ministry said.
The Somali National Army said the assault was thwarted during a coordinated defensive operation that left government forces in full control of the area, delivering what officials described as a major setback to the al-Qaida-linked group.
“The National Army is currently conducting pursuit operations to track down the fleeing remnants of the group and ensure they cannot regroup,” the ministry said in a statement.
Military commanders later confirmed that security had been fully restored in Wargaadhi and that there was no immediate threat to civilians. Officials said the town and surrounding areas remain firmly under government control.
The Defense Ministry and the Somali Armed Forces Command reiterated their commitment to defeating the insurgency, warning that any further attempts by al-Shabab to destabilize the country would be met with a forceful response.
Wargaadhi, located in Middle Shabelle, lies in a region that has seen repeated clashes as government forces and allied clan militias intensify operations aimed at dismantling al-Shabab’s rural strongholds. The group has continued to target military positions and local communities despite sustained pressure from Somali forces supported by international partners.
Al-Shabab frequently launches attacks on towns reclaimed by the government, seeking to undermine security gains and demonstrate its ability to strike despite territorial losses.