Baidoa — In a bid to tighten security and press Al-Shabaab fighters, Somalia’s elite Danab Commandos from the 165th Battalion of the 16th Brigade launched a targeted operation on Saturday, July 11, sweeping several villages near the Burhakaba district in the Bay region.
The troops moved into Besiqow, Salan Marode, Habar Gare, and Awbariyow, conducting patrols and searches intended to bolster public safety and disrupt insurgent activity. Military officials said the actions were meant to shore up security in rural communities that remain vulnerable to militant operations.
Officers with the 165th Battalion described the mission as part of the Somali National Army’s broader push to expand secure zones, stabilize reclaimed areas, and protect civilians across Bay region. They emphasized that the commandos will sustain pressure on Al-Shabaab through continued field deployments.
“Our forces will continue conducting operations to secure local communities and deny Al-Shabaab the ability to threaten civilians,” an officer from the 165th Battalion told Lamaane News Network. The officer also urged residents to assist security efforts by reporting any suspicious activity that could undermine local stability.
Villagers in the targeted locations reported seeing Danab units move through populated neighborhoods and encircle surrounding rural areas. Security teams performed routine inspections before resuming patrols, with daily movement in the zones continuing under military oversight.
The operation takes place as Somali forces step up counterinsurgency campaigns across southern Somalia, where Al-Shabaab still mounts attacks despite ongoing military pressure. Bay region is viewed as strategically important because it links multiple population centers and transportation corridors critical for government administration and civilian travel.
Security analysts note that recurring operations in rural districts help constrain insurgent movement, extend the government’s footprint, and open space for humanitarian access and local governance. Such missions are seen as a key element of Somalia’s wider effort to restore stability in insurgency-affected areas.
Military officials said similar operations will continue in coordination with other Somali National Army units active across Bay region. They reiterated that collaboration between local communities and security forces is essential to preserving security gains and preventing militants from reestablishing a foothold.
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Publisher Bio: Lamaane News Network ( is a Mogadishu-based independent digital news organization covering developments in Somalia, the Horn of Africa, and international affairs, with reporting in both Somali and English. Founded on December 9, 2015, it is committed to producing factual, balanced, and timely journalism in accordance with professional editorial and ethical standards.
