Monday 23,June 2025 {HMC} Somali National Armed Forces (SNA), supported by local militias known as Macawisley, killed at least 20 al-Shabab militants during a military operation Sunday in the Hirshabelle State of central Somalia, according to military officials.
The joint offensive targeted militant positions in the Mabaah and Gayacad areas of the Hiiraan region, long considered a stronghold of the al-Qaida-linked group.
Government sources said operations are ongoing as troops continue to pursue fleeing fighters and work to fully dismantle al-Shabab’s presence in the area.
In a statement, the Federal Government of Somalia reaffirmed its determination to protect citizens, uphold national unity, and eliminate the threat posed by al-Shabab, which continues to launch deadly attacks against civilians and government forces.
The militant group has waged a violent insurgency in Somalia for over a decade, aiming to overthrow the internationally backed government and impose its own strict interpretation of Islamic law.
Source Hiiraan online
