Somali National Army (SNA) elite Danab Commandos have taken full control of the strategic areas of Dhanaane and Gandarshe in the Lower Shabelle region, following sustained military operations against the Al-Shabaab militant group.
The successful operation comes after nearly two weeks of intense offensives carried out by Danab forces along the corridor between Mogadishu and Marka, an area where Al-Shabaab had maintained a presence for many years. According to military officials, the group had controlled Dhanaane and Gandarshe for close to 20 years, using the coastal settlements as key logistical and operational hubs.
Senior Danab officers who spoke to Somali state media confirmed that government forces are now in full control of both locations. They said the operation was carefully planned and executed with the aim of dismantling Al-Shabaab networks, restoring security, and reopening vital routes linking communities in Lower Shabelle.
As part of the operation, Danab Commandos also cleared a wide belt of surrounding villages that had been under Al-Shabaab influence. These include Galsalimow, Ceel Salini, Galka Jimcoy, Jabad Ari, Cismaan Gurey, Halambe, Garas, Gawan, and Aw Maki. Military sources noted that clearing these settlements was critical to preventing the militants from regrouping or launching counterattacks.
Although officials did not disclose casualty figures from either side, they confirmed that troops conducted extensive mine-clearance operations, removing numerous improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and landmines planted by Al-Shabaab along roads and within residential areas. The clearance efforts are expected to allow the safe movement of civilians and humanitarian access to the liberated communities.
Commanders leading the operation emphasized that the offensive is part of a broader national campaign aimed at eliminating Al-Shabaab strongholds across the country. They vowed that operations will continue until the group is fully driven out of all areas it still controls.
The liberation of Dhanaane and Gandarshe is seen as a significant boost to ongoing security efforts in Lower Shabelle, a region long regarded as one of Al-Shabaab’s most important bases due to its proximity to the capital and access to the coastline