Danab and Jubaland Forces Eliminate 14 al-Shabab Fighters in Lower Juba Operation

Danab and Jubaland Forces Eliminate 14 al-Shabab Fighters in Lower Juba Operation

Somalia’s counterterrorism campaign intensified this week as the elite Danab Special Forces, operating alongside Jubaland state security forces, carried out a planned operation near Jamaame town in the Lower Juba region. According to security officials, the coordinated raid resulted in the deaths of 14 al-Shabab fighters.

Officials confirmed that one additional militant was wounded during the operation, while several others fled as troops advanced on suspected militant positions in rural areas surrounding Jamaame. The district has long been considered an area where the al-Qaida-linked group maintains influence, despite sustained military pressure from both federal and regional forces.

The Ministry of Defence and the Somali National Army (SNA) command described the mission as part of an ongoing campaign to dismantle al-Shabab’s operational presence in southern Somalia. In an official statement, the ministry reaffirmed the armed forces’ commitment to eliminating militant threats and ensuring lasting peace and stability for the Somali people. Authorities emphasized that similar coordinated operations will continue in the region.

Danab, a U.S.-trained special operations unit within the Somali National Army, has played a pivotal role in high-risk missions targeting al-Shabab leadership, training camps, and supply routes. The unit is widely regarded as one of Somalia’s most effective counterterrorism forces. Meanwhile, Jubaland security forces have been conducting parallel stabilization efforts in Lower Juba, reinforcing broader regional strategies aimed at weakening militant networks.

Al-Shabab has waged an insurgency against Somalia’s federal government for more than 16 years. The group frequently targets security forces, government officials, and civilians in its effort to topple the state and impose its strict interpretation of Islamic law.

The latest operation near Jamaame highlights the continued cooperation between federal elite units and regional forces—an approach officials say is essential to disrupting militant strongholds and restoring stability in southern Somalia.