Turkey boosts air and ground support as Somalia escalates war on al-Shabab
MOGADISHU, Somalia — Turkey has expanded its military footprint in Somalia, reinforcing air and ground units to support the country’s campaign against al-Shabab as attacks intensify in and around the capital, Turkish security officials said Thursday.
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The buildup includes new deployments to Türkiye’s Air Component Command in Somalia, with the added assets dedicated to counterterrorism missions. The moves come alongside ongoing work by the Somali-Turkish Task Force, which continues training, advising and equipping Somali forces, officials said.
- Reinforced Turkish Air Component to back counterterrorism operations
- Somali-Turkish Task Force maintains training and advisory support
- Escalating al-Shabab attacks underscore persistent security gaps
Somalia has battled al-Shabab, an al-Qaida-linked group, for more than a decade. Despite sustained pressure by Somali forces, African Union troops and international partners, the militants continue to stage suicide bombings, targeted assassinations and complex assaults, particularly in Mogadishu and surrounding regions.
In recent months, the group has stepped up attacks on government institutions, security forces and public gathering places, highlighting its ability to exploit security gaps even as authorities press a nationwide offensive aimed at disrupting revenue streams, degrading leadership and retaking contested territory.
Turkey has emerged as one of Somalia’s closest security partners, operating a major military training base in Mogadishu and providing extensive assistance to the Somali National Army. Turkish instructors have trained thousands of Somali troops and supplied equipment, technical support and operational guidance designed to professionalize local units and improve battlefield coordination.
Turkish officials say the objective is to help Somalia build a self-sustaining security architecture capable of maintaining stability and reducing reliance on foreign forces. The latest reinforcements signal Ankara’s intent to deepen that long-term partnership at a sensitive moment, as Somali authorities try to consolidate gains and prevent al-Shabab from regrouping or reclaiming territory.
No specifics on the scale or composition of the new deployments were immediately disclosed. However, the expanded air component is expected to enhance surveillance, mobility and rapid-response capabilities for Somali units, particularly in urban and peri-urban areas where militants have targeted civilians and government sites.
For Mogadishu, the bolstered presence adds a layer of capacity as security agencies work to neutralize threats, improve intelligence sharing and protect population centers. It also underscores the continued role of international partners in Somalia’s stabilization effort, as national forces take on more responsibility for frontline operations.
The timing reflects the ebb and flow of a grinding conflict that has defied quick fixes. Al-Shabab retains the ability to adapt tactics and exploit vulnerabilities, even as domestic and allied forces intensify their campaign. Turkish support, Somali officials have long argued, is critical to bridging capability gaps while the country rebuilds its institutions and expands the professional ranks of its military.
The measures announced Thursday add to Turkey’s multi-year security and training mission in Somalia. Whether they translate into durable security gains will depend on the pace of Somali force development, the effectiveness of joint operations and the government’s efforts to lock in territorial control through governance and services once areas are cleared.
Source: TRT World and agencies
By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
