U.S. Airstrike Kills 12 Al-Shabaab Militants in Somalia

 U.S. Airstrike Kills 12 Al-Shabaab Militants in Somalia

A U.S. airstrike, carried out in coordination with the Somali National Army (SNA), killed at least 12 Al-Shabaab militants on Wednesday night in the Aden Yabaal district of the Middle Shabelle region. The Somali government confirmed the news in a statement released on Thursday.

The operation targeted a compound where Al-Shabaab fighters had gathered. Among the dead were several senior commanders. The Somali government reported that there were no civilian casualties in the strike.

Officials stated that this strike was part of ongoing efforts to weaken the leadership and capabilities of the Al-Shabaab group. The Somali Army and U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) are continuing to assess the results of the operation.

The airstrike took place shortly after Al-Shabaab launched a major attack and captured the strategic town of Aden Yabaal. The town had been under government control since its liberation in December 2022.

Al-Shabaab later claimed responsibility for the attack and released a video showing its fighters in the town. However, the footage has not been independently verified.

In recent weeks, U.S. and Somali forces have stepped up counterterrorism operations in central Somalia. Reports show that Al-Shabaab activity in the Hiraan and Middle Shabelle regions has increased by more than 50% compared to 2024. This has reversed some of the progress made during the Somali government’s 2022 offensive.