Somali Forces Intensify Military and Security Campaigns in Baay and Middle Shabelle Regions

GOOBJOOG NEWS | MOGADISHU: Somali federal and regional forces have stepped up joint military and security operations in the Baay and Middle Shabelle regions, targeting militant hideouts and cracking down on intercommunal violence as part of a broader effort to stabilize conflict-affected areas.

In the Baay region, the Somali National Army’s 8th Battalion of the 60th Division, backed by the Southwest State Darawiish, launched a coordinated offensive in the villages of Kuraaw-rooge and Dhanbalka, under the Deynuunay district.

According to Lieutenant Colonel Abdirahman Nishow Ali and Captain Awul Ibraahim Abdullahi, the operation specifically targeted known Al-Shabaab hideouts used to coordinate attacks in the area.

“These missions are part of a wider campaign to dismantle Al-Shabaab’s operational networks and restore stability,” said the officers, adding that further operations are planned to maintain pressure on the militant group.

Al-Shabaab, an armed group designated as a terrorist organization by the United Nations and the United States, continues to pose a serious security threat across several Somali regions.

Meanwhile, in the Middle Shabelle region, local authorities are responding to a surge in clan-related violence.

The Governor of Middle Shabelle, Mahmoud Mohamed Nur, warned against individuals accused of inciting intercommunal conflict after two civilians were killed in Koogaar, a village near Cadale town.

“We will pursue and prosecute those responsible for fueling violence and spreading misinformation that endangers public peace,” Governor Nur said in a press briefing.

He confirmed that active security operations are underway to arrest armed militias linked to the attacks.

Authorities in both regions have pledged continued efforts to dismantle armed networks, prevent further violence, and promote reconciliation in communities fractured by long-standing tensions.