Tuesday April 22, 2025
Mogadishu (HOL) — Community defence forces in central Somalia launched a major assault on Monday targeting Al-Shabaab militants entrenched in villages near the town of Aadan Yabaal in the Middle Shabelle region, Somali military officials said.
The offensive was led by Ma'awiisley units based in Mabaax, Hiiraan region, and focused on known militant hideouts. Officials confirmed that several Al-Shabaab fighters were killed during the operation, though no exact figures were provided.
Operations continued through Tuesday morning as fighters swept nearby areas in pursuit of fleeing militants. Commanders say the goal is to dismantle Al-Shabaab’s ability to regroup and launch retaliatory attacks in the region.
The assault comes shortly after Al-Shabaab fighters staged a deadly offensive to temporarily recapture Aadan Yabaal, which had been under federal government control since its liberation in December 2022, during a joint offensive involving Somali troops and allied community militias.
Aadan Yabaal sits along a key corridor connecting Mogadishu to central Somalia and has been a repeated target of insurgent attacks due to its strategic location. The area remains contested as militants retreat to rural hideouts following setbacks in direct battles.
Ma'awiisley forces — composed primarily of local clan militias aligned with federal forces — have emerged as critical partners in Somalia’s counterinsurgency campaign. Their knowledge of the terrain and local support has helped reclaim swathes of territory from Al-Shabaab, though the group remains capable of launching deadly ambushes and targeted assassinations.