Mogadishu, June 30, 2026
The Somali National Army, supported by international security partners, conducted a series of airstrikes in the Godey area of southern Somalia on Tuesday, killing 35 al-Shabaab militants, the Ministry of Defence said.
The ministry said the joint strikes also injured 20 other militants, specifically targeting the group’s network of caves, weapons caches, and hideouts, Xinhua news agency reported.
It added that the initial strikes triggered a series of large secondary explosions at the scene, indicating the presence of hidden weapons stockpiles, explosive materials, and enemy military supplies.
“The site was also occupied by militants and vehicles loaded with explosives that had been prepared for use in terrorist attacks against Somalia,” the ministry said in a statement issued in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia.
On Saturday, the Somali National Army and international partners killed 30 al-Shabaab militants during a joint operation in the Middle Shabelle region of southern Somalia.
According to the Ministry of Defence, the forces also destroyed two vehicles, weapons, ammunition, and other logistical supplies used by the group to plan terrorist attacks.
The military operations took place on Tuesday and Wednesday, specifically targeting al-Shabaab mobilisation centres and training facilities.
The ministry said the targeted locations were actively used by the militant group to store vital military supplies.
“The Ministry of Defence extends its appreciation to the international partners supporting Somalia’s counterterrorism efforts, whose continued assistance has played a significant role in the success of these operations,” the ministry said in a statement.
Al-Shabaab did not comment on the operations, which took place amid intensified ground offensives by Somalia’s elite forces and their international partners.
Earlier in the month, Somali security forces, backed by international partners, killed 29 al-Shabaab militants, including a senior commander, during a joint operation in the Middle Shabelle and Hiran regions of central Somalia.
“The forces killed 23 al-Shabaab militants near Masjid Ali Gudud in Middle Shabelle in the first operation, and they later killed five and a commander at Buq Aqable in the Hiran region,” the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) said.(Agency)
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