Reports from Aadan Yabaal district in the Middle Shabelle region indicate that heavy overnight airstrikes targeted locations inside the district, specifically areas suspected to be hiding spots for Al-Shabaab militants.
The strikes reportedly focused on underground hideouts and known Al-Shabaab positions within the town. However, the official casualty figures and extent of the damage from the attack have not yet been confirmed.
This aerial assault follows intense fighting that broke out yesterday on the outskirts of Aadan Yabaal. Initial reports suggest that the battle resulted in at least 20 fatalities, with the majority of the casualties believed to be from the Al-Shabaab side.
In response, reinforcements from neighboring districts—including Moqokori, Maxaas, and other areas in the Hiiraan region—have arrived near Aadan Yabaal. These troops are joining forces with government soldiers and local community militias known as the Maawiisley, who have launched a major operation aimed at liberating the district and its surrounding areas.
Military officials from both the Somali National Army and the Maawiisley have expressed a firm commitment to drive Al-Shabaab out of Aadan Yabaal and to restore lasting security across the broader Middle Shabelle region.
Meanwhile, fierce clashes have also been reported along the border between the Hiiraan and Middle Shabelle regions, where joint forces are targeting additional Al-Shabaab bases in the area.
This marks a significant escalation in the government-led offensive against Al-Shabaab in central Somalia, with Aadan Yabaal emerging as a strategic flashpoint. The coordinated push involving both state and local forces signals a renewed determination to dismantle militant infrastructure and reclaim control over key districts.
