Somali government forces on Monday repelled a major Al-Shabaab assault in the Middle Shabelle region, highlighting the escalating military push by authorities to secure critical transport corridors approaching the capital, officials said.
The confrontation erupted before dawn in the Jabad Godane area after fighters from the Al-Qaeda-aligned group launched coordinated attacks on government positions from multiple directions. Security officials said elite Somali National Army commando units withstood hours of intense fighting before forcing the militants to retreat and restoring full control over the area.
Military commanders described the response as a coordinated operation combining ground troops, air power and heavy fire support. Fighter aircraft and vehicle-mounted artillery were used to strike militant hideouts and destroy a network of deep trenches that Al-Shabaab had recently excavated, positions officials said were designed to shield fighters and enable sustained combat.
In a brief statement, the Somali National Army said the militants suffered “significant losses,” though it did not provide casualty figures. Following the clashes, troops launched search-and-clear operations across the area to eliminate any remaining fighters and prevent the group from regrouping.
Jabad Godane is regarded as a strategic location due to its proximity to Ali Gaduud Mosque town, a key junction linking the Hirshabelle and Galmudug regional administrations with the Banadir region, which includes Mogadishu. Control of the corridor is vital for military logistics, troop movements and civilian travel, making it a frequent target for militant operations.
Despite the reported success, government forces acknowledged losses. Speaking by phone to Radio Shabelle from the battlefield, Second Lieutenant Rabiic confirmed that soldiers were killed during the fighting.
“We lost some of our soldiers, but we repelled the attack and defended our positions,” he said, declining to give further details.
The Somali Federal Government, working in coordination with the United States Africa Command, is expected to release a more detailed assessment of casualties from both the airstrikes and the ground fighting in the coming days.
The clash comes as Mogadishu intensifies what it has described as an all-out campaign against Al-Shabaab across central and southern Somalia. Middle Shabelle has seen a sharp increase in militant activity in recent weeks, prompting authorities to reinforce troop deployments and step up pre-emptive military operations.
For more than fifteen years, Al-Shabaab has waged a violent insurgency aimed at toppling Somalia’s internationally recognized government. Although sustained offensives have pushed the group out of several strongholds, it continues to carry out deadly raids and surprise attacks on military bases and civilian targets.
As of late Monday, Al-Shabaab had not issued a public statement addressing the fighting or the losses reported in Jabad Godane.