Sunday April 6, 2025 {HMC} Somali government forces, supported by the country’s intelligence agency, say they have killed more than 80 Al-Shabaab militants in a weeklong military campaign across the Middle and Lower Shabelle regions, according to officials.
The National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) said six joint operations—consisting of airstrikes and ground raids—were carried out between March 29 and April 4, targeting militant strongholds in Sabiid, Caanoole, Bursha Sheekh, Aw-Baalle, and Al-kowthar.
“Over 80 fighters were eliminated, including several key commanders,” NISA said in a press release Saturday. “These operations mark a turning point in our strategy to dismantle Al-Shabaab’s command structure.”
The campaign began on March 29, with Somali troops storming Al-Shabaab positions in Sabiid and Caanoole. Twenty-one militants were killed during the fighting, which included aerial bombardments conducted by NISA.
On March 30, a precision strike hit a compound in Al-kowthar, Middle Shabelle, where senior Al-Shabaab leaders had reportedly gathered. NISA said all targeted individuals were killed in the strike.
A day later, on March 31, Somali forces launched another airstrike in Bursha Sheikh, killing 19 militants, followed by a second round of strikes on April 1 that killed an additional 17 fighters who had been trapped or wounded during the initial attack.
On April 2, seven militants were killed in Aw-Baalle when NISA destroyed a motorcycle packed with explosives. The final strike on April 4 near Al-Kowthar killed 13 fleeing fighters after they clashed with local community defence forces.
The operations are part of an intensified push by the Somali government to reclaim rural areas where Al-Shabaab remains active. While the group has lost control of most urban centers, it continues to wage an insurgency, frequently carrying out suicide bombings, assassinations, and ambushes.
NISA described the offensive as one of its most effective coordinated efforts to date.
“Our forces demonstrated growing intelligence and operational capabilities,” the agency said. “We will continue targeting Al-Shabaab leadership to prevent their resurgence.”
NISA claimed that no government casualties were reported during the operations.
Al-Shabaab, an al-Qaida-linked militant group, has fought to overthrow Somalia’s federal government for more than 15 years. Despite repeated military campaigns, the group remains a significant security threat in the Horn of Africa.
