Mogadishu — Somalia’s security forces, working with international partners, carried out overnight precision airstrikes that killed 29 al-Shabaab militants in central Somalia, the Ministry of Defence announced on January 1, 2026.
The strikes targeted militant hideouts and gathering points in Jabad Godane, a town in the Middle Shabelle region, an area that has remained a key battleground in the government’s fight against the al-Qaeda-linked insurgent group.
In a statement, the ministry said the operation destroyed several vehicles and weapons caches that were “intended for use in terrorist attacks against civilians,” adding that the strikes were conducted in successive waves to neutralise multiple targets.
“The Somali Armed Forces, in coordination with international partners, conducted precision airstrikes overnight which resulted in the elimination of 29 Khawarij militants,” the ministry said, using the government’s term for al-Shabaab. Officials said there were no civilian casualties reported.
The defence ministry expressed gratitude to its international allies for their support in intelligence sharing and operational coordination, though it did not name specific partners.
Such air operations are frequently conducted with support from the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM), as well as other allies involved in Somalia’s security sector, including Turkey and the African Union.
The latest strikes form part of an intensified campaign against al-Shabaab, which has waged an insurgency against Somalia’s internationally backed government since 2007, seeking to overthrow it and impose a strict interpretation of Islamic law.
While Somali forces, backed by clan militias and foreign partners, have reclaimed territory in parts of central Somalia in recent years, control has remained fluid.
Security analysts note that Middle Shabelle continues to be strategically important for al-Shabaab due to its proximity to Mogadishu and its role as a logistics and recruitment corridor.
As of January 3, 2026, there was no independent verification of the casualty figures, and al-Shabaab had not commented on the reported losses — a common pattern following government-announced operations.
The strikes come amid broader security challenges across the Horn of Africa, where militant activity, political transitions and regional tensions continue to test fragile state institutions.
