Monday June 9, 2025
Mogadishu (HOL) – Elite Danab commandos of the Somali National Army have killed at least 25 Al-Shabaab militants, including three senior commanders, in a targeted military operation in the village of Gaalware, located 4 kilometres east of Sabiid and Caanoole in the Lower Shabelle region.
The Ministry of Defense confirmed the operation on Sunday, stating that the joint forces also seized a significant cache of weapons, including six PKM machine guns, two RPG launchers, and 17 AK-47 rifles.
Officials said the raid successfully disrupted a planned terrorist attack, significantly weakening the group's presence in the area.
“The Federal Government of Somalia remains firmly committed to the total eradication of Al-Shabaab and to ensuring national security, in collaboration with the Somali Armed Forces and the support of the Somali people,” the ministry noted in a statement.
The operation comes amid intensified military campaigns in southern Somalia, where government forces—backed by local militias and international partners—have been targeting Al-Shabaab strongholds in Lower Shabelle, Middle Juba, and Galmudug regions.
Security analysts note that the death of senior operatives and the capture of weapons in this operation represent a major setback for the insurgent group, which has continued to launch asymmetric attacks across the country despite losing territorial control in many areas.