Saturday December 20, 2025
Mogadishu (HOL) - U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) carried out airstrikes targeting al-Shabaab militants in Somalia’s Middle Shabelle region on December 18, 2025, according to a statement.
The airstrikes took place near Nur Dugle, approximately 215 kilometers northeast of Mogadishu.
The strikes came hours after al-Shabaab fighters attacked government and allied local militia positions in the area, triggering heavy clashes between the two sides.
Residents told local media that intense fighting erupted, with both sides using heavy and light weapons. The sound of explosions and gunfire was reportedly heard from areas far from the scene of the fighting.
Casualties from the hours-long clashes in Nur Dugle have not yet been officially confirmed. However, preliminary reports suggest that the fighting resulted in deaths and injuries on both sides.