Danaab Special Forces Say Nine Al Shabaab Fighters Killed In Lower Shabelle Operation

GOOBJOOG NEWS | MOGADISHU: Somalia’s elite Danab Special Forces say they have killed nine Al Shabaab fighters, including a local commander, during a military operation in the Lower Shabelle region, as security forces continue their campaign against the armed militant group.

The operation took place in Hantiwadaag, an area in Lower Shabelle where the military said Al Shabaab fighters had been hiding. According to military sources, the raid was carefully planned and targeted members of the group before ending with the deaths of nine fighters, including the commander leading them.

Military commanders said operations against the group would continue, adding that the force remained capable of pursuing militants wherever they were operating.

Lower Shabelle has long been one of Somalia’s most contested regions because of its proximity to the capital, Mogadishu, and its strategic road network linking several parts of southern Somalia. Al Shabaab has maintained a presence in parts of the region despite repeated military offensives over the years.

The latest operation comes as Somali security forces have stepped up pressure on the group in several regions, carrying out a series of raids targeting suspected fighters and commanders. The military says these operations are intended to weaken Al Shabaab’s ability to stage attacks and maintain control over rural areas.

Al Shabaab, which has waged an insurgency against the Somali government for more than 15 years, continues to launch deadly attacks despite sustained military operations by Somali forces, supported in some areas by African Union troops and international partners.

Security analysts say that while government forces have made gains in some areas, the group’s ability to regroup and carry out attacks highlights the continuing challenge facing Somalia’s efforts to restore stability and extend state authority across the country.