Somalia’s Defense Ministry announced Wednesday that national forces have liberated key villages in the southern Lower Shabelle region from al-Shabaab militants.
The military operation targeted Maalinka, Baladul Amiin, Omar Beere, and Balow, dismantling militant hideouts and clearing roads rigged with deadly improvised explosives. Troops successfully removed IEDs planted along public routes, which posed grave threats to civilians, the ministry said in a statement.
Authorities urged citizens to cooperate with the army to defeat terrorism and restore security, calling for unity against persistent extremist threats. Over the past two months, the Somali National Army has intensified its campaign in Lower Shabelle, reclaiming strategic towns from the al-Qaeda-linked group.
On August 18, elite Danab Brigade forces, supported by air strikes, killed over 100 militants near the town of Awdhegle, the ministry reported. The army, backed by the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia, also liberated Bariire, an agricultural hub located 73 kilometers southwest of Mogadishu.
Al-Shabaab has waged a violent insurgency against the Somali government and international forces since at least 2007, leaving a trail of destruction and fear. The recent advances mark a significant push in the fight against extremism, highlighting Somalia’s ongoing struggle for stability and national security.