Monday 26 Jan 2026 {HMC} Somalia’s Minister of Defense, Ahmed Moallim Fiqi, said the Somali National Army (SNA) has achieved major gains following two weeks of fighting in the Jabad Godane area, east of Xawaadleey in the Middle Shabelle region, against Al-Shabaab militants.
Speaking at a press conference on Monday evening, the minister said government forces killed between 120 and 150 Al-Shabaab fighters during the two-week clashes.
He added that in a separate battle that began last night and continued until monday afternoon, government troops killed 50 Al-Shabaab militants, including six senior leaders who had been directing the fighting over the past two weeks. More than 200 other fighters were wounded in that engagement, he said.
Minister Fiqi described the developments as a major blow to Al-Shabaab, noting that the group had recently claimed it would capture the Middle Shabelle region and advance toward the capital, Mogadishu.
He emphasized that the areas where the fighting took place are of strategic importance to the security of Mogadishu and to a site where the Turkish government plans to establish a satellite launch facility.
