Jubbaland forces kill nearly 10 al-Shabaab militants in Lower Juba battle

Jubbaland forces kill nearly 10 al-Shabaab militants in Lower Juba battle 

Jubbaland security forces killed nearly 10 Al-Shabaab militants during a military operation on the outskirts of Janaay Abdalla, a village near Kismayo, officials reported Tuesday.

The fighting erupted when Jubbaland's Darawish forces launched a preemptive strike against Al-Shabaab fighters suspected of planning an attack on the town. The militants had been preparing to retake Janaay Abdalla, which has seen repeated assaults since the group was expelled from the area.

"We successfully neutralized close to 10 militants and injured several others during the operation," a Jubbaland officer told the national media, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Janaay Abdalla, located in the volatile Lower Juba region, is considered vital for the defence of Kismayo, the capital of Jubbaland. Al-Shabaab, which once controlled large swathes of the area, has launched numerous attacks in an effort to reclaim it.

While Jubbaland forces, supported by Somali federal troops and international allies, have managed to hold onto the town, the insurgents continue to pose a significant threat in the region. The ongoing conflict is part of a broader struggle between Somali government forces and the Al-Qaeda-linked group, which has waged an insurgency for more than a decade.

Despite gains in recapturing key territories from Al-Shabaab, officials warn that securing these areas and preventing future attacks remain critical challenges.