Somali government forces, in coordination with local defense units, killed at least 20 Al-Shabaab militants, including a senior leader, during a planned operation in the Nur Gadow area of Middle Shabelle region on Friday.
A statement issued by the Federal Government of Somalia confirmed the success of the joint offensive, though it did not identify the name or specific role of the Al-Shabaab leader killed in the operation.
“The Khawarij command in Nur Gadow area—our defence heroes—killed more than 20 militiamen and a senior leader of the Khawarij in operation,” the government statement read.
The operation is part of ongoing military efforts in Middle Shabelle, where both ground engagements and airstrikes have intensified in recent days as part of a broader offensive to dismantle Al-Shabaab’s strongholds.
The Somali government, backed by clan militias and international partners, has recently escalated its counterinsurgency campaign across Hirshabelle and other central regions.
While it has made notable territorial gains, Al-Shabaab remains entrenched in rural areas and continues to conduct deadly asymmetric attacks. The group is designated a terrorist organization by the Somali government, the United Nations, the United States, and other international partners.
