Saturday June 28, 2025
Mogadishu (HOL) — Somali army forces, in coordination with
local fighters, destroyed several al-Shabab hideouts in the Middle Shabelle
region as part of an ongoing counterterrorism operation, the Ministry of
Defense announced Friday.
The ministry said the operation—code-named “Silent Storm”—is
aimed at clearing remaining elements of the al-Qaida-linked group from key
areas in southern Somalia.
Ministry spokesperson Sheikh Abubakar Moalim said the forces
targeted locations where al-Shabab militants were believed to be regrouping. He
confirmed that no casualties were reported among government troops during the
latest offensive.
“Our forces successfully dismantled al-Shabab hideouts
without sustaining any losses,” Moalim said. “An assessment is underway to
determine the extent of damage inflicted on the militants.”
The operation, which began Wednesday, is focused on the
Shabelle and Middle Shabelle regions—areas long used by the group as staging
grounds for attacks.
According to the Ministry of Defense, military engineers are
also conducting large-scale clearance efforts to remove landmines and
improvised explosive devices left behind by the militants.
The Somali government has intensified its military campaign
against al-Shabab in recent months, seeking to regain full control over rural
areas and improve security ahead of planned political reforms and nationwide
elections.
