Scenes from Mogadishu reveal the aftermath of a car explosion outside a local café, leaving devastation in its wake. This unsettling event took place on July 15, 2024. [Photo Credit: Abuukar Mohamed Muhidin – Anadolu Agency]
In the throes of conflict, 59 militants linked to Al-Shabaab and four brave soldiers have perished during separate military assaults in Somalia’s southern and central heartlands, confirmed the nation’s Information Ministry, as reported by Anadolu Agency.
Entrenched battles against Al-Qaeda-tied Al-Shabaab fighters unfolded as the Somali National Army (SNA), backed by local militias and global security alliances, launched operations east of the Galgaduud and Middle Shabelle regions, according to ministry dispatches.
In round one, dubbed the Garilay confrontation, 32 extremists met their end in Galgaduud, a fact underscored by the statement utilizing the term “Khawarij” to describe the Al-Shabaab adherents, a common Somali governmental designation for this radical group.
The ministry further acknowledged that four soldiers made the ultimate sacrifice during this clash.
Round two erupted in Yaaqle village near Hawadlay, within Middle Shabelle, ceasing the activities of 27 militants, as detailed in the official communiqué.
Over recent years, precise strikes aimed at dismantling Al-Shabaab’s hierarchy and fighters have surged, delivering severe setbacks to the movement.
From 2022 onward, coordinated assaults by governmental troops, militias, and international collaborators have been pressed vigorously against these rebels.
Just earlier, Somalia’s Defense Minister Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur addressed media in Mogadishu, revealing that a significant operation in the Galgaduud province led to the annihilation of more than 100 Al-Shabaab extremists, alongside numerous injuries.
He pointed out that their forces had struck targets near Bida Isse and Geriile, leveraging victories in the recently liberated Eeldheer locale within Galmudug.
For years, Somalia has wrestled with relentless upheaval primarily sparked by Al-Shabaab’s malevolent activities, alongside sporadic violence from Daesh factions.
Since 2007, Al-Shabaab has rattled Somalia’s stability, challenging both the national government and the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS)—a multifaceted mission born from AU authorization and UN Security Council mandates.
With Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s recent clarion call for an “all-out war” against the group, Al-Shabaab has amplified its aggressive maneuvers.
Edited by: Ali Musa
Axadle international–Monitoring
