Beledweyne (Horn Observer + Lamaane.net) – Somali forces and international partners launched airstrikes against Al-Shabaab positions near Mahaas district in the Hiran region on Monday, July 13, killing 42 fighters and injuring 12 others, Somalia’s Ministry of Defense said. The strikes targeted Goobo village as part of an ongoing campaign to prevent the armed group from regrouping.
The operation took place on Monday evening in Goobo, about 10 kilometers north of Mahaas, according to the ministry. Al-Shabaab fighters had reportedly gathered there after retreating from clashes earlier that day in the Sullay and Waab-weyn areas. Military officials said the bombardment also destroyed an armed vehicle, defensive positions, and temporary bases set up by the group.
In a statement, the Ministry of Defense said the Somali National Army conducted the operation jointly with international security partners assisting Somalia’s counterterrorism campaign. It characterized the strikes as part of sustained efforts to undermine Al-Shabaab’s operational capabilities and stop its fighters from reorganizing after recent battlefield losses.
“The operation successfully targeted militants attempting to regroup after suffering setbacks during earlier engagements,” the ministry said. It added that security forces remained focused on tracking senior commanders and dismantling the group’s remaining positions across the region.
A senior security official familiar with the mission told Lamaane News Network that government forces were still assessing the area after the strikes. “The objective was to deny the militants the opportunity to reorganize after withdrawing from previous fighting. Operations remain active, and security assessments are ongoing,” said the official, who spoke on condition of attribution because he was not authorized to publicly discuss operational details.
People living in communities near Mahaas reported hearing several explosions during the evening before military activity intensified across the surrounding area. Local sources said security operations continued to restrict access along some rural roads, though conditions within the immediate strike zone could not be independently verified.
The Ministry of Defense praised the Somali National Army and the Ma’awisley militia for their contributions to the wider campaign. The Ma’awisley are locally organized, clan-based fighters who, with federal government support, have mobilized to defend their communities against Al-Shabaab. The ministry also thanked Somalia’s international partners for continuing to support counterterrorism operations.
Hiran remains a major front in Somalia’s military offensive against Al-Shabaab. In recent months, government troops and Ma’awisley fighters have carried out sustained operations across the region. Federal authorities say the campaign aims to weaken the group’s command structure, limit its ability to stage attacks, and strengthen security throughout central Somalia.
Military officers said the latest action forms part of a broader strategy to eliminate Al-Shabaab safe havens, pairing advances on the ground with targeted airstrikes against fighters who retreat from combat and attempt to regroup.
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