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Somali Army Chief Visits Frontline Troops after Clashes in Lower Shabelle

Storyline:Security, War on Al-Shabaab

GOOBJOOG NEWS | MOGADISHU: Somalia’s army chief has visited frontline positions in the southern Lower Shabelle region following recent fighting with Al-Shabaab militants, as military commanders assess the progress of ongoing operations against the group.

Brigadier General Sahal Abdullahi Omar, commander of the Somali National Army’s ground forces, travelled to the Jameeco and Leego areas alongside Colonel Hassan Ali Nur Shuute, chairman of the first-instance military court, and other senior officers.

The delegation met local commanders, who briefed them on recent clashes, military gains and the security situation in areas where government forces are conducting operations.

The visit comes after the military reported heavy casualties among Al-Shabaab fighters during an operation in Jameeco, in Bay region, on October 26. The Defence Ministry said 75 militants were killed and 56 wounded, although the figures could not be independently verified.

Lower Shabelle is among the areas where Somali forces have continued operations against Al-Shabaab, which has waged an insurgency against the federal government for more than a decade. The group remains capable of carrying out attacks despite sustained military campaigns aimed at weakening its presence in southern and central Somalia.

During the visit, the officers praised troops for their efforts and urged them to maintain pressure on the militants, according to a military statement. They also reaffirmed their support for forces deployed on the front lines.

The visit offered senior commanders an opportunity to receive updates from field officers, although the statement did not provide details of new operations, territorial changes or casualties from the latest fighting.

Somalia’s military campaign against Al-Shabaab seeks to recover territory, disrupt the group’s operations and improve security for civilians. Holding areas after they are retaken remains a key challenge as authorities seek to prevent militants from returning.