MOGADISHU — Somalia’s armed forces, working alongside international partners including the United States, carried out a planned overnight operation targeting Al-Shabaab in Saakow district of the Middle Juba region, authorities said on Friday.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Defence, the operation struck a facility used by Al-Shabaab to manufacture and assemble explosive devices. Officials described the site as the group’s largest bomb-making factory in the area, adding that it was completely destroyed during the strike.
The operation resulted in the deaths of 18 Al-Shabaab militants, including individuals identified as engineers and specialists involved in producing explosives intended for attacks against civilians, the ministry said.
The Somali National Army said the operation was conducted in close coordination with international partners, underscoring continued cooperation in counter-terrorism efforts. The ministry and army command reaffirmed their commitment to intensifying operations aimed at degrading the militant group’s operational capacity and safeguarding public safety.
Al-Shabaab, an al-Qaeda-linked group, has waged an insurgency against Somalia’s federal government for more than a decade, frequently carrying out attacks targeting security forces and civilians across the country.
Officials said sustained joint operations will continue as part of broader efforts to weaken the group and improve security in affected regions.
