Somali army says Danab commandos rescue nine hostages in Middle Shabelle
The Defense Ministry said the civilians had been held hostage by the militant group. It did not immediately provide further details on their identities, how long they had been held or whether any soldiers were wounded in the...
Thursday May 14, 2026
Mogadishu (AX) — Somali commandos freed nine civilians from al-Shabab captivity during a military operation in the Middle Shabelle region, the Ministry of Defense said Wednesday.
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According to the ministry, Danab special forces launched the planned raid Tuesday night in Gambole, where they killed five al-Shabab fighters, among them a local commander.
The Defense Ministry said the civilians had been held hostage by the militant group. It did not immediately provide further details on their identities, how long they had been held or whether any soldiers were wounded in the operation.
The ministry said the assault formed part of ongoing military efforts to improve security and disrupt al-Shabab positions in central and southern Somalia.
The Somali National Army command and the Ministry of Defense said operations against al-Shabab would continue in order to protect civilians and help stabilize the country.
Al-Shabab, which is linked to al-Qaida, continues to stage attacks across Somalia despite sustained military pressure from Somali forces and international partners. Middle Shabelle has remained one of the key battlegrounds, where government troops and allied local fighters have been conducting operations against the group.
