Sunday May 4, 2025
Mogadishu (HOL) — Somali government forces, in collaboration with local community fighters, killed at least 50 Al-Shabaab militants in heavy fighting on Saturday along the border between the Hiiraan and Middle Shabelle regions, according to the Ministry of Defense.
The clashes occurred in several rural locations, including Muqliga Ali, El-Hareeri, Hareeri Madoobe, and Garas Magan, where Al-Shabaab launched an attack on a Somali army base. Government officials said the offensive was successfully repelled.
Abukar Mohamed, spokesman for the Ministry of Defense, said joint forces inflicted significant casualties on the militants.
“The Khawarij enemy attempted to attack our army and local allied forces, but they were repelled and suffered a major defeat. We confirm that 30 bodies were found in the forested areas where the fighting occurred, and another 20 were killed earlier,” Mohamed said in a statement.
The statement marks one of the most significant battlefield setbacks for Al-Shabaab in recent weeks as fighting in central Somalia intensifies.
In recent months, the Somali National Army and local Ma’awisley fighters have launched coordinated offensives across Hiiraan and Middle Shabelle in an effort to reclaim territory from the al-Qaeda-linked militant group.