Army raids deal major blow to al-Shabab in central Somalia
GALGADUUD, Somalia — Somali government forces say they destroyed al-Shabab hideouts and secured a key roadway during an operation in central Somalia, marking a fresh setback for the extremist group as the army intensifies its campaign across Galmudug state.
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Troops from the Somali National Army’s 242nd Battalion led the raid along the corridor between Cali Yabaal and the Geeriile junction, targeting what officials described as a supply store and shelters used by the militants. The push disrupted movement in and out of the area and denied the group access to a route they had relied on to stage attacks, military officials said.
Capt. Bashiir Qorane, the battalion commander, said intelligence indicated al-Shabab had used the site to plan operations and plant threats along the main road. “Our forces dismantled the shelters the militants relied on to hide and plan attacks,” Qorane said in an interview with state media. “They also secured the road between Cali Yabaal and the Geeriile junction, which the group had used for movement and regrouping.”
Security officials said the militants were preparing to strike army positions and nearby communities before the raid, but were pre-empted as the operation unfolded. No timeline or casualty figures were announced. The army described the action as part of a broader campaign to degrade al-Shabab’s rural footprint in central Somalia, open transport corridors and restore government services after years of insecurity.
The Galgaduud region has seen a sustained uptick in security operations in recent months, with the SNA working alongside local forces to push militants from villages and clear main roads. The transport link between Cali Yabaal and the Geeriile junction is considered strategically important for civilian movement and commerce in Galmudug, where road closures and roadside threats have hampered trade and humanitarian access.
While the military has publicized gains across central regions, officials caution that al-Shabab maintains the capacity to regroup and launch asymmetrical attacks in response to pressure. The rural safe havens targeted in raids like the one announced in Galgaduud often serve as staging grounds for cross-regional operations and improvised explosive device networks.
Amid the battlefield pressure, al-Shabab is reportedly engaged in indirect contacts with Somalia’s federal government through proxies, with Qatar and Turkey cited as facilitators, according to reporting from Somali media. Details of any talks have not been made public, and officials have not confirmed a framework for negotiations. Military commanders contend the group has nonetheless suffered notable reversals in recent weeks as government forces and allied militias expand operations.
The Somali government has emphasized securing roadways as a central objective of its campaign against al-Shabab, arguing that safe transport corridors are critical for economic recovery and the return of displaced communities. Officials say the latest raid in Galgaduud is intended to consolidate those goals by limiting the militants’ freedom of movement, cutting off supplies and deterring attacks aimed at civilians.
As security operations continue across central Somalia, the SNA has framed its approach as a mix of targeted raids, route clearance and coordination with local authorities to hold recaptured areas. The army said further operations are planned along key transport corridors in Galmudug to prevent al-Shabab from reconstituting cells and to protect communities from retaliatory attacks.
By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
