Somalia Says Joint Airstrike With Türkiye Kills 35 Al-Shabaab Fighters in Lower Shabelle

GOOBJOOG NEWS| LOWER SHABELLE: The Ministry of Defence said Tuesday the Somali National Army, working alongside the Turkish Armed Forces, carried out a coordinated airstrike early Monday targeting Al-Shabaab positions in the Goday area of Lower Shabelle region.

In a statement, the ministry said the strike targeted locations where Al-Shabaab fighters were gathered, destroying militant facilities and weapons caches.

According to the ministry, 35 Al-Shabaab fighters were killed in the operation, while more than 20 others were wounded. The government also said the airstrike destroyed vehicles and military equipment that the group was allegedly preparing to use in planned attacks and other security-related operations.

The ministry described the operation as part of ongoing military efforts to dismantle Al-Shabaab’s operational capabilities and improve security across the country. It also thanked the Somali public and international partners for their continued support in the fight against the militant group.

No independent verification of the casualty figures or damage claims was immediately available.

Al-Shabaab, an al-Qaeda-linked militant group, has waged an insurgency against the Somali government for more than 15 years and continues to carry out attacks despite sustained military offensives by Somali forces and their international partners. Türkiye has become one of Somalia’s closest security partners, providing military training, equipment, and operational support as Mogadishu intensifies its campaign against the group.