Saturday 26,July 2025 {HMC} Somali National Army (SNA) and the Ugandan People’s Defense Force (UPDF), who part of the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), repelled an al-Shabaab attack on an army base in the Lower Shabelle region on Friday, killing 18 militants.
The coordinated assault by al-Shabaab militants targeted positions in the Sabiib and Anole areas, but was met with strong resistance from national forces. According to a statement from the Ministry of Defense, four government soldiers were killed and seven others wounded in the exchange.
“The national forces, who were on high alert and fully prepared, responded swiftly and effectively to the assault, successfully thwarting the terrorists’ attempt to penetrate the area,” the statement said.
The ministry added that pursuit operations are ongoing to track down the remaining militants. It also acknowledged support from international security partners, who conducted aerial strikes that “inflicted heavy damage on al-Shabaab militants.”
This latest confrontation follows nearly two months of intense fighting, during which Somali and AUSSOM forces recaptured the strategic villages of Anole and Sabid from al-Shabaab in late June.
Anole and Sabid, located in the southwest province of Lower Shabelle, are strategic military assets that act as a vital link.
Al-Shabaab, which has waged an insurgency against the Somali government for more than 16 years, regularly targets security forces, government officials, and civilians.
