Conflicting reports have emerged about ongoing heavy airstrikes in parts of the Lower Shabelle region, conducted by the Somali government’s warplanes and their international allies.
The aerial attack, launched early this morning, targeted Al-Shabaab strongholds on the outskirts of Afgoye town, creating a tense and chaotic situation on the ground.
According to sources, the strikes are specifically hitting the areas of Sabiib and Anole, where Al-Shabaab fighters had been hiding. The operation aims to dismantle the group’s hideouts and disrupt their movements.
Initial reports suggest that the airstrikes have inflicted heavy casualties on the militants, though exact figures remain unconfirmed. The Somali government has yet to issue an official statement on the operation.
This offensive comes just a week after Al-Shabaab launched a deadly attack in Sabiib and Anole, triggering fierce clashes with government forces. Since then, the militant group has been carrying out intensified movements in the region.
The ongoing airstrikes are part of broader efforts to weaken Al-Shabaab’s presence in Lower Shabelle. They follow a recent operation in Awdheegle, where the group briefly seized control before being repelled by elite Somali troops, including Gorgor and the 14th October Battalion.
Despite repeated attacks by Al-Shabaab, the group continues to rely on early-morning ambush tactics against government military bases, underscoring the persistent challenge of countering their insurgency.
