Monday July 13, 2026
Mogadishu (AX) — Somali forces, backed by international partners, announced on Monday that airstrikes in central Somalia killed at least 26 Al-Shabaab fighters as part of a concentrated offensive in the Middle Shabelle region.
The Ministry of Defense said the strikes struck militant positions in Adow Jilib, Gayfo and Qordheere, areas where the group had been actively operating.
The ministry said the operation also destroyed combat vehicles and fuel tankers used by the militants to support their operations and carry out attacks.
Officials described the strikes as one element of sustained military efforts to weaken Al-Shabaab’s fighting capacity and interrupt its networks across central Somalia.
In its statement, the Ministry of Defense expressed gratitude to Somalia’s international partners for their support in counterterrorism missions, noting that continued cooperation is vital to the campaign.
The government reiterated that Somali forces, together with their allies, will press on with operations until Al-Shabaab no longer threatens the country’s security or civilian population.
