The Somali National Army, with support from international partners, carried out a series of airstrikes on July 1 and July 2, 2026, targeting Al-Shabaab positions in the Tawakal, Nuun Garre and Ugunji areas of the Lower Shabelle region, according to Somalia's Ministry of Defence.
In a statement, the ministry said the coordinated strikes targeted locations where Al-Shabaab fighters had been operating. The military said the operation killed 27 members of the group and injured about 20 others. It added that the strikes destroyed vehicles, weapons, ammunition and bases that the militants had been using to organise and carry out attacks.
According to the Ministry of Defence, the operation was conducted jointly by the Somali National Army and international partners as part of ongoing efforts to weaken the group's operational capacity in parts of southern Somalia where it still maintains a presence.
The ministry said the strikes focused on the Tawakal, Nuun Garre and Ugunji areas after identifying locations used by Al-Shabaab fighters. It said the destruction of military equipment and logistical facilities was intended to disrupt the group's ability to prepare and launch attacks.
"The Somali National Army, working together with international partners, carried out a series of airstrikes on July 1 and 2, 2026, targeting locations occupied by Al-Shabaab militants in the Tawakal, Nuun Garre and Ugunji areas of the Lower Shabelle region. The strikes killed 27 Al-Shabaab fighters and wounded about 20 others. They also destroyed vehicles, weapons, military supplies and bases that the group had been using to organise and carry out terrorist attacks," the ministry said.
The Ministry of Defence thanked international partners supporting Somalia's campaign against Al-Shabaab, saying the cooperation remained important in the country's efforts to combat and eliminate the militant group.
"We thank Somalia's international partners who continue to support the country's fight against terrorism. The Ministry of Defence and the Somali National Army Command reaffirm their commitment to continuing operations targeting Al-Shabaab leaders and fighters until the threat they pose to the Somali people has been eliminated," the ministry said.
The latest operation forms part of a wider military campaign by Somali government forces, backed by international partners, to increase pressure on Al-Shabaab through both ground and air operations. The government has continued to target the group's leadership, fighters and logistical networks in an effort to reduce its ability to launch attacks against civilians, security forces and public infrastructure.
Authorities have repeatedly stated that military operations will continue in areas where intelligence identifies the presence of Al-Shabaab fighters or facilities used by the group. The government has also maintained that cooperation with international partners remains an important part of its security strategy as it seeks to restore stability in regions affected by the insurgency.
The Ministry of Defence did not identify the international partners involved in the latest airstrikes, and the casualty figures provided by the military could not be independently verified. However, officials said operations against Al-Shabaab would continue until the group no longer posed a threat to the Somali people.
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