MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somali National Army Danab special forces killed 15 al-Shabab militants and captured eight others in a targeted raid late Saturday in Jilib district, a long-held stronghold of the extremist group in southern Somalia, the Defense Ministry said.
The overnight operation zeroed in on militant positions inside the strategic town, part of a continuing campaign to degrade al-Shabab’s leadership, logistics and capacity to launch attacks.
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- Casualties: 15 militants killed, eight captured, according to the Defense Ministry
- Location: Jilib, al-Shabab’s key operational hub in southern Somalia
- Method: Rapid action supported by air mobility to extend reach and strike with precision
- Objective: Disrupt command nodes, supply lines and operational planning
In a statement Sunday, the ministry said the mission underscored the army’s expanding ability to conduct complex raids at pace and at range. “The mission demonstrated the growing operational capability of the Somali National Army, particularly the effective use of air mobility to expand operational reach and engage the enemy at any time and in any location,” the ministry said.
The Defense Ministry and the Somali National Army Command praised Danab forces for what they described as professionalism and readiness, and reaffirmed the federal government’s pledge to press operations against the group. Officials said operations would continue “until the terrorist threat is fully eradicated and lasting peace and stability are secured for the Somali people.”
Jilib has long functioned as both a symbolic and operational center for al-Shabab, making it a recurring target for Somali and allied strikes aimed at weakening the group’s command structure and territorial control. The latest raid is the newest in a series of actions designed to apply consistent pressure on the insurgents while limiting their room to regroup or maneuver.
Al-Shabab, which is allied with al-Qaida, has waged an insurgency against Somalia’s federal government for more than a decade. The group routinely carries out bombings, assassinations and coordinated assaults against military bases, government facilities and civilians. Despite sustained pressure from Somali security forces, backed by international partners, al-Shabab continues to exert influence in parts of southern and central Somalia.
Somali officials have emphasized the importance of mobility, intelligence-led targeting and denying the militants sanctuary in hubs like Jilib. Saturday’s raid, the ministry suggested, was calibrated to strike at the group’s ability to direct attacks beyond the immediate battlefield, including planning cells and logistics routes that sustain operations elsewhere in the country.
No further details about the duration of the operation or the identities of the captured suspects were immediately released.
The government says it intends to maintain momentum with follow-on raids aimed at disrupting al-Shabab’s command-and-control and dismantling its networks—particularly in areas where the group has historically leveraged terrain and local coercion to maintain influence. Authorities framed Saturday’s strike as a marker of the army’s growing confidence and reach as broader stabilization efforts attempt to take root in liberated areas.
By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
