Saturday December 13, 2025
FILE - Jubbaland’s Darwish forces assemble ahead of an operation
Mogadishu (HOL) — Jubbaland’s Darwish forces launched a sweeping security operation in the town of Qooqaani in Lower Jubba, targeting areas used by Al-Shabab militants and working to secure major routes that link the town to surrounding districts, regional officials said Saturday.
Security chief Mahmoud Adan Hassan Gaaboow, who directed the operation, said troops searched key access roads and nearby settlements that have served as transit points for the group. He said the mission aimed to prevent attacks and increase civilian safety along roads frequently used for travel and trade.
Jubbaland authorities described the sweep as part of a broader campaign to disrupt Al-Shabab’s mobility and weaken its operational networks in southern Somalia. Despite ongoing military pressure, the group maintains influence in several rural areas of Lower and Middle Jubba.
Officials say increased patrols and targeted raids are intended to block the movement of fighters and supplies, reduce the group’s access to communities, and reclaim contested territory.