Adan Yabaal, Somalia – The United States and Somali armed forces have carried out a coordinated airstrike targeting al-Shabab militants in the embattled central Somali town of Adan Yabaal, Somali authorities announced on Thursday.
The strike, conducted late Wednesday, came in direct response to an intense raid by the al-Qaeda-affiliated group on Adan Yabaal, a town of key strategic importance in Somalia’s counter-insurgency operations. The Somali Ministry of Information said that 12 militants were killed, including senior commanders, and confirmed that no civilians were harmed in the operation.
The airstrike, executed in partnership with the US Africa Command (Africom), was designed to “neutralize the threat posed” by al-Shabab, the ministry stated. “The targeted strike hit a site used by the militants as a gathering and hideout.”
Adan Yabaal, located in the Middle Shabelle region north of Mogadishu, has long held significance due to its use as a military launchpad against jihadist strongholds. The town was previously seized by al-Shabab in 2016 but was retaken by government forces in 2022. On Wednesday morning, militants launched a fresh offensive using heavy explosives, sparking fierce clashes with Somali troops.
Although the Somali government has not confirmed the current status of the town, al-Shabab claims to have regained control. Eyewitnesses told AFP that the militants had taken over Adan Yabaal following the attack.
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, who visited the town just weeks ago to meet military commanders, emphasized its strategic role in the ongoing fight against extremism. He has since played down the latest assault, insisting that battlefield setbacks are part of a broader campaign to dismantle the group’s grip on Somalia.
Al-Shabab has waged a nearly 20-year insurgency in Somalia with the aim of toppling the federal government and establishing an Islamist state. Despite being pushed back significantly during offensives in 2022 and 2023 — backed by the African Union-led peacekeeping force — the group remains a potent force capable of launching deadly attacks, including a recent attempt on President Mohamud’s convoy.
In a separate confrontation near the southern city of Baidoa on Thursday, the Somali army reported killing at least 35 militants who tried to overrun an army base.
President Mohamud has reiterated his government’s commitment to defeating al-Shabab, stating, “We remain resolute. These setbacks will not deter us from securing peace and restoring stability.”
As Somalia continues to battle a persistent insurgency, the latest airstrike underscores the vital partnership between Somali forces and international allies in countering extremist threats across the Horn of Africa.
About The Author
