Somali regional forces kill at least seven al‑Shabaab militants in Galgaduud clash
MOGADISHU, Somalia — Regional forces in central Somalia said they killed at least seven al‑Shabaab fighters during a fierce overnight clash in the Ceelahelay area of Galgaduud, marking one of the most significant engagements in months as the campaign against the insurgent group continues.
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The clash
Galmudug state’s Darwish Forces fought with al‑Shabaab in Ceelahelay, with support from Somali national troops, regional commanders said Sunday. Officers from the Galayr Battalion told state media they found bodies of militants at the scene and were pursuing others who fled as the fighting ended.
Casualties and pursuit
Security officials reported several other al‑Shabaab fighters were critically wounded and detained for treatment and interrogation. Commanders cautioned that darkness at the time of the operation made it difficult to confirm the full scale of casualties, and that a fuller assessment is under way. Authorities said pursuit operations were continuing in surrounding areas to locate militants who escaped the initial engagement.
Casualty figures in Somalia’s conflict zones are often difficult to independently verify, and the reported tolls can change as more information emerges. There was no immediate comment from al‑Shabaab on the latest reports.
Wider context
The clash comes amid an extended push by Somali security forces and allied regional units to squeeze al‑Shabaab strongholds in central regions while also pressuring the group in the south. The federal government, which is backed by the United Nations and international partners, says it aims to degrade the group’s capacity through coordinated ground operations, arrests, and efforts to encourage defections.
Officials say recent months have seen militants surrender or defect, but al‑Shabaab remains a potent threat, capable of mounting lethal attacks on security targets and civilians. The group has long sought to topple Somalia’s federal institutions and impose its harsh interpretation of Islamic law, and it maintains networks that complicate stabilization and governance in contested districts.
Sunday’s fighting in Galgaduud underscores both the pressure on al‑Shabaab and the persistence of the insurgency in rural stretches where terrain and limited infrastructure can challenge security operations and post-battle assessments. Regional commanders say they intend to maintain patrols and clearance operations around Ceelahelay as they gather more information on the fighters who fled.
Further details, including updated casualty figures and outcomes from the ongoing pursuit, were not immediately available.
By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
