Airstrikes Intensify as Al-Shabab Seizes Control of Key Somali Town

Fri Oct 24 2025 04:03:05 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

US and Somali forces collaborate in airstrike against Islamist militants in Adan Yabaal amid rising tensions and control battles.

In response to increased clashes for control over the strategically important town of Adan Yabaal, US and Somali forces recently executed a targeted airstrike, killing key Al-Shabab militants. The ongoing struggle highlights persistent threats from the jihadist group, which has long been in conflict with the Somali government.

Amid fierce battles for the control of the critical town of Adan Yabaal, recent airstrikes by US and Somali forces have intensified their military operations against the Islamist group Al-Shabab. According to a statement from the Somali information ministry, the "well-coordinated" airstrike was executed following a raid by Al-Shabab on the town, which is strategically utilized for launching military operations. Among the 12 militants confirmed killed in the strike, several senior figures affiliated with the al-Qaeda-linked group were identified.

This military engagement comes against a backdrop of rising concerns regarding the resurgence of jihadist violence in Somalia, especially after a recent attack aimed at President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud's convoy. For almost two decades, Al-Shabab has fought fiercely against the federal government, striving to establish an Islamist state in the region. Although the African Union-led peacekeeping forces pushed Al-Shabab into a more defensive posture in 2022 and 2023, the group continues to pose a substantial threat, complicating Somalia's security landscape.

In defending their actions, the Somali government insists that Al-Shabab has been significantly weakened. According to the information ministry’s update, the airstrike was intended to "neutralize the threat posed" by the militants and hit a gathering site used for their operations, delivering the news that there were no civilian casualties.

Recaptured in 2022, Adan Yabaal lies at the heart of ongoing territorial disputes. Following heavy fighting, local reports indicated that Al-Shabab had regained control of the town, claiming responsibility for the recent raid. While President Mohamud visited the town last month, emphasizing its strategic importance, he reassured the public that the government is steadfast in its resolution to defeat the militants.

In a separate operation, the Somali national army reported the elimination of at least 35 fighters attempting to assault an army base in the vicinity of Baidoa, further underlining the ongoing combat against jihadist factions. The president remains vigilant, asserting that periodic setbacks on the battlefield are to be expected in their struggle against Al-Shabab’s advances.