Saturday 28, June 2025 {HMC} Somali army forces, in coordination with local fighters, destroyed several al-Shabab hideouts in the Middle Shabelle region as part of an ongoing counterterrorism operation, the Ministry of Defense announced Friday.
The ministry said the operation—code-named “Silent Storm”—is aimed at clearing remaining elements of the al-Qaida-linked group from key areas in southern Somalia.
Ministry spokesperson Sheikh Abubakar Moalim said the forces targeted locations where al-Shabab militants were believed to be regrouping. He confirmed that no casualties were reported among government troops during the latest offensive.
“Our forces successfully dismantled al-Shabab hideouts without sustaining any losses,” Moalim said. “An assessment is underway to determine the extent of damage inflicted on the militants.”
The operation, which began Wednesday, is focused on the Shabelle and Middle Shabelle regions—areas long used by the group as staging grounds for attacks.
According to the Ministry of Defense, military engineers are also conducting large-scale clearance efforts to remove landmines and improvised explosive devices left behind by the militants.
The Somali government has intensified its military campaign against al-Shabab in recent months, seeking to regain full control over rural areas and improve security ahead of planned political reforms and nationwide elections.
Source Hiiraan online
