MOGADISHU — The Somali National Armed Forces (SNAF), operating in coordination with international defense partners, have conducted an intelligence-led air operation against Al-Shabaab militants in the Mudug region, the Ministry of Defence announced Thursday.
The precise strike targeted a militant gathering near Tawarmooge, approximately eight kilometers south of Aad and 45 kilometers north of Harardhere, according to an official ministry statement.
“The operation eliminated a crucial militant assembly point where the group was planning attacks to destabilize the region and endanger Somali civilians,” the ministry said in a statement carried by the Somali National News Agency (SONNA) [citation:1].
Casualty Figures and Destroyed Equipment
According to preliminary assessments, the airstrike killed approximately 70 Al-Shabaab militants, including several senior commanders. Additionally, between 90 and 95 militants were injured, significantly reducing the group’s combat capability in the area, the ministry reported.
The operation also destroyed eight military vehicles, including logistical transports carrying essential supplies, disrupting the militants’ supply chain.
Commitment to Ongoing Operations
The Ministry of Defence confirmed the operation’s success and reaffirmed its commitment to eliminating all terrorist elements from Somali territory.
“The SNAF will maintain its operational pace and continue aggressive operations to systematically degrade Al-Shabaab’s capabilities, ensuring lasting security for the Somali population,” the ministry stated.
Previous Operations in Mudug and Bakool
The latest airstrike follows a pattern of intensified military pressure on Al-Shabaab strongholds in central Somalia. In November 2025, Somali National Army forces, working alongside Macawisley community defense fighters, eliminated eleven militants in coordinated operations across Mudug and Bakool regions. Those operations targeted hideouts that had become staging points for assaults on villages and transport routes, with local commanders tracking militant cells for days before conducting swift and precise strikes.
The November operations also resulted in the recovery of rifles, ammunition, and communication devices that officials said were meant for attacks timed to coincide with the movement of security convoys and regional delegations.
Senior Commander Eliminated in Middle Jubba
The government has also scored significant successes against Al-Shabaab’s leadership structure in southern Somalia. In October 2025, Somali security forces, in coordination with international partners, killed senior Al-Shabaab commander Mohamud Abdi Hamud — widely known by his nom de guerre Jacfar Gurey — in a targeted airstrike in Bu’aale, Middle Jubba region.
Officials described Jacfar Gurey as one of the group’s top regional figures, directly involved in planning and executing deadly attacks on civilians, security personnel, and government institutions. The government said at the time that the elimination of Jacfar Gurey was “a major success in our joint efforts with international partners to weaken Al-Shabaab’s command structure”.
Continued Pressure Across Multiple Fronts
The military campaign against Al-Shabaab has intensified since President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud announced a “total war” against the group in August 2022. Operations continue across multiple fronts, with Somali forces and their international partners maintaining pressure on militant strongholds in both central and southern Somalia.
The government has consistently emphasized that counter-terrorism operations will continue until all terrorist elements are eliminated from Somali territory and lasting security is established for the Somali population.
