Sunday June 22, 2025
Mogadishu (HOL) — Somali government forces have destroyed two Al-Shabab weapons depots in a targeted military operation in Aadan Yabaal, a strategic town in the Middle Shabelle region long used by the militant group as a base for attacks across central Somalia.
The operation, conducted in the Howlwadaag neighbourhood of Aadan Yabaal, targeted facilities used to store weapons and prepare explosive-laden vehicles, according to state media. One of the depots reportedly erupted in flames during the raid, suggesting the presence of volatile materials or pre-rigged car bombs.
Government officials said the strike is part of a broader campaign to dismantle Al-Shabab’s logistical network in the central regions. Aadan Yabaal, located about 220 kilometres northeast of Mogadishu, has historically served as a key staging ground for the group’s operations across Middle Shabelle, Hiiraan, and Galgaduud.
The raid follows a similar offensive earlier this month in the same district, where Somali forces reportedly killed at least 20 Al-Shabab fighters. The two successive operations highlight Mogadishu’s intensified efforts to regain control of Aadan Yabaal, a district the federal government had previously lost to the group.
Al-Shabab, which is allied with al-Qaida, continues to conduct ambushes and roadside bombings despite the government’s multi-phase military campaign launched in 2022 with support from international partners.
Officials say regaining control of Aadan Yabaal is critical to breaking Al-Shabab’s supply chain and restoring civilian governance in Somalia’s central regions.