Thursday May 22, 2025
Kismayo (HOL) – The Somali National Army’s elite Danab Commandos, in collaboration with the Jubbaland Dervish forces, have killed 48 al-Shabaab militants during a major offensive in the Lower Juba region, the Federal Government announced on Thursday.
The two-day operation, focused on the outskirts of Barjala, targeted key strongholds of the al-Qaeda-affiliated militant group. Government forces also captured two militants alive during the assault.
“This tactical operation was carried out to destroy strategic positions of the Khawarij group in the area, which were important for the coordination and activities of the terrorist militias,” the statement read.
In addition to neutralizing dozens of fighters, the joint forces seized a cache of weapons, including AK-47 rifles, BKM machine guns, and other critical combat equipment used by al-Shabaab.
This operation is part of the federal government’s widening military campaign to dismantle al-Shabaab’s operational capacity across southern and central Somalia. It follows a series of successful offensives this week in Hiiraan, Middle Shabelle, and Lower Juba, where more than 120 militants were killed, including senior commanders.
The Somali government has vowed to sustain pressure on the group until its complete defeat, with support from local clan militias and international partners.