Thursday 22-Jun 2026 {HMC} Somali National Army, backed by Jubbaland regional security units and international partners, killed more than 130 As militants during a prolonged operation that repelled a major attack on the town of Kudhaa in Somalia’s Lower Juba region, the Defense Ministry said on Thursday.
The operation, which lasted more than 24 hours, ended an assault launched by AS fighters on the strategic town, officials said. The fighting involved direct ground combat as government and allied forces pushed back militants attempting to overrun the area.
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“This joint operation inflicted heavy losses on the enemy, killing more than 130 militants and wounding many others after a direct battle in which the forces bravely repelled the attack,” the Ministry of Defense said in a statement.
Authorities said the Somali National Army’s elite Danab commandos played a leading role in the operation, alongside Jubbaland Security Forces, with support from international partners. Security forces also seized vehicles and weapons abandoned by retreating militants, according to the statement.
Following the fighting, Somali officials said Kudhaa and its surrounding areas are fully under government control. Danab units and Jubbaland forces remain on high alert to prevent any renewed threats or regrouping by al-Shabab fighters.
“The security of the town and its environs is firmly in the hands of our forces,” the ministry said.
The Defense Ministry and the Somali National Army Command praised the coordination and vigilance of the forces involved, describing the operation as a significant blow to AS capabilities in Lower Juba, a region the group has long used as a base for attacks and logistics.
The ministry said military operations against al-Shabab would continue until lasting peace and stability are achieved across Somalia.
As, which is linked to al-Qaida, continues to mount complex attacks against towns, military positions and civilian targets despite sustained pressure from Somali forces supported by regional and international partners. Lower Juba, which borders Kenya, remains a key battleground in the fight against the insurgent group.
Source Hiiraan Online
