Somalia Steps Up Anti-al Shabaab Offensive, Denies Militant Claim of Downing AU Helicopter

GOOBJOOG NEWS | MOGADISHU: Somalia’s Defence Minister has said that military operations to reclaim territory from Al Shabaab are intensifying across multiple regions, dismissing recent claims by the militant group that it shot down an African Union (AU) helicopter.

Speaking to a local television in Mogadishu, Defence Minister Ahmed Moalim Fiqi said coordinated offensives involving the Somali National Army (SNA), local fighters, and federal forces are currently underway in Hirshabelle, Jubbaland, and South West State.

“Our forces, along with community fighters like those in Hiiraan, are pushing forward to liberate areas under al Shabaab control. The army is providing medical care to the wounded, and the government is supplying weapons and logistical support,” Fiqi said.

He rejected recent criticism suggesting the security situation in Hiiraan was deteriorating, insisting the region is actively being stabilized by joint forces.

“The people of Hiiraan are not alone in this fight. They are supported by a national effort, with full backing from the Somali government,” he added.

In a separate development, Fiqi dismissed Al Shabaab’s claim that it had shot down an AU military helicopter in Middle Shabelle earlier this week. He clarified that the helicopter suffered a technical fault and was not brought down by hostile action.

“All crew members were safely evacuated, and the situation was contained quickly. There was no enemy engagement involved,” he said.

The Al Shabaab militant group had circulated images suggesting the helicopter had been downed during combat, flying over a flag bearing the group’s insignia. Both Somali authorities and the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) refuted the claim, confirming the aircraft’s failure was mechanical.

The Somali government has ramped up its military campaign since 2022, working with international partners to dislodge al Shabaab from its rural strongholds and dismantle its operational networks.

Officials say collaboration with local communities remains a critical pillar in the ongoing fight, as the country aims to restore peace and stability after decades of conflict.