The military of Somalia says it has taken control of an area used by the militant group Al Shabab during a major counterterrorism operation in the south of the country.
According to Somalia’s Defence Ministry, troops captured the Hawaadley area in the Middle Shabelle region as part of a broader military campaign known as Operation Badr. The operation aims to destroy locations used by militants as safe havens.
The army said several Al-Shabab positions and storage facilities were destroyed during the fighting. Soldiers are continuing search operations in the area to locate remaining militants and secure newly captured territory.
The offensive is linked to another campaign called Operation Rolling Thunder, launched earlier this month. The operations are supported by international partners, including Ugandan troops serving under the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM).
Al-Shabab, which is linked to Al-Qaeda, has carried out attacks against the Somali government, security forces, and civilians for more than 16 years.
Somalia has increased military operations against the group since mid-2025 with support from international allies. The mission supporting these efforts was recently extended by the United Nations Security Council until the end of the year.
Source: TRT Africa
