Somali Army Kills 120 al-Shabaab Militants in Major 72-Hour Offensive

Defense Minister Ahmed Ma’alin Fiqi confirmed during a press conference in Mogadishu that the offensive represents a critical escalation in Somalia's campaign against the Islamist insurgent group. The operations, described as part of a new phase in the national counter-terror effort, targeted al-Shabaab strongholds in Hiiraan, Middle Shabelle, Lower Shabelle, and Lower Juba regions.

“More than 120 Khawarij militias and leaders were killed in battles and airstrikes,” said Minister Fiqi, using the government’s pejorative term for al-Shabaab. “Among them was a senior commander responsible for orchestrating mortar attacks in Mogadishu. He and all his bodyguards were eliminated.”

The joint operations, which included airstrikes and ground assaults, focused on areas including Geel Gub, Sabiib, Caanoole, Barjaale, and the outskirts of Adan Yabaal district. The Ma’awisley, a local militia formed by clan members—particularly from the Hawadle clan—played a vital role in the fighting.

“This is a national war. The liberation of areas under Khawarij control will not stop. We are determined to drive them out permanently,” Minister Fiqi asserted, vowing continued operations “village by village” until al-Shabaab is fully eradicated from Somalia.

He also issued a stern rebuke to opposition politicians, accusing some of undermining the military’s efforts with rhetoric that seemingly aligns with the militants. “The army needs your support. Do not talk like spokespeople for al-Shabaab,” Fiqi warned, calling for unified national backing.

The offensive comes amid intensified government efforts to dismantle al-Shabaab’s grip on rural territories and disrupt its logistical and command networks, which have supported an insurgency for over 16 years. Despite territorial losses, the group continues to conduct deadly attacks against civilians, security forces, and infrastructure across Somalia.