Saturday August 9, 2025
Mogadishu (HOL) – Somali National Army (SNA), in
collaboration with the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) under the African
Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), killed more than 100 al-Shabaab
fighters and captured several others during a week-long operation in the Lower
Shabelle region, the Somali Defense Ministry announced Friday evening.
The joint forces also seized the strategic agricultural town
of Bariire, located 73 kilometres (45 miles) southwest of Mogadishu, from the
militant group.
“The forces are now conducting clearance operations in
Bariire and surrounding areas, seizing a significant cache of weapons and
military supplies,” the ministry said.
The operation follows a similar offensive earlier this week
in which at least 70 al-Shabaab fighters were killed in the same region. Two
SNA soldiers were killed and 12 others wounded during Monday’s clashes.
Al-Shabaab, which has fought the Somali government for over
16 years, continues to carry out deadly attacks targeting security forces,
officials, and civilians.