BREAKING!! 7 Al-Shabaab Militants Eliminated In Latest Attack

Somali National Armed Forces (SNAF), with backing from international partners, carried out a coordinated early morning raid in Awdheegle district, Lower Shabelle region, killing seven Al-Shabaab militants and injuring several others, the Ministry of Defence said Tuesday.

The operation targeted militants engaged in acts of sabotage against local farming communities, aiming to disrupt livelihoods and weaken regional stability.

Officials reported that the extremists had diverted water onto farmland to destroy crops, a tactic designed to undermine rural economies and disrupt the daily lives of residents.

“The terrorists deliberately redirected water into farmlands in an attempt to ruin crops and cripple the livelihoods and commerce of the community,” the ministry said, highlighting the ongoing threat to civilians.

Lower Shabelle, part of Somalia’s fertile southern belt, has long been a battleground between government forces and Al-Shabaab, which has maintained a decade-long insurgency.

Despite government gains since 2022 in areas such as Hiraan, Galgaduud, and Middle Shabelle, Al-Shabaab continues to launch attacks on civilians, security personnel, and infrastructure.

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s administration has intensified military operations, working alongside international allies including the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), the United States, and Turkey, to dismantle the group’s operational networks.

Air surveillance, intelligence sharing, and drone strikes have been central to these campaigns, enabling targeted actions while minimizing civilian harm.

“The Somali National Armed Forces remain steadfast in defending the Somali people, protecting their livelihoods, and ensuring the defeat of terrorist groups so that peace and prosperity can prevail,” the ministry said.

The raid comes amid increased security operations in southern Somalia ahead of ATMIS’s planned troop drawdown, with the Somali army expected to assume full responsibility for security by December 2024, while continuing to counter Al-Shabaab’s attacks on economic infrastructure.