US-Somali air strike kills 12 Al-Shabaab militants in Adan Yabaal

Mogadishu: Somali and United States forces carried out a joint air strike on Wednesday night in Adan Yabaal, a strategic town 220 kilometres north of Mogadishu, killing 12 Al-Shabaab militants. The operation was launched amid an active assault by the group on the town, which is currently used as a base by Somali military commanders.

Somalia’s Ministry of Information confirmed the strike on Thursday, stating that the targeted site was being used as a hideout and operational hub by Al-Shabaab. Preliminary intelligence indicates that 12 operatives, including senior figures within the group, were eliminated in the precision strike.

The government described the action as part of continued efforts to "neutralise the threat" posed by Al-Shabaab, an Al-Qaeda-linked jihadist group responsible for numerous attacks across Somalia. The air strike was carried out in coordination with the US Africa Command (AFRICOM), which has long supported Somali forces in counterterrorism operations.

Adan Yabaal was previously a stronghold of Al-Shabaab before it was recaptured by Somali forces in December 2022 during a major offensive backed by African Union peacekeepers. However, the area has seen a rise in militant activity, including a recent attempted attack on the convoy of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, sparking renewed fears of a jihadist resurgence.

The United States continues to assist Somalia through targeted operations aimed at dismantling militant infrastructure and leadership. Al-Shabaab, despite territorial setbacks, remains active and capable of launching coordinated attacks, particularly in central and southern Somalia.

The strike underscores the ongoing security challenges in Somalia and the international effort to contain the influence of the extremist group.