Mogadishu, Somalia — Somali forces, working with international partners including the United States, carried out an overnight operation in southern Somalia that destroyed an Al-Shabaab bomb-making facility, the defence ministry said.
The Somali National Army (SNA) said the strike targeted a factory in Saakow district in Middle Juba region that it described as a major site for producing and preparing explosive devices. The ministry said the operation “completely destroyed” the facility.
The strike killed 18 Al-Shabaab militants, including technicians and engineers the ministry accused of building explosives used in attacks on Somalis. Somalia Today could not independently verify the claims or immediately confirm whether civilians suffered harm.
Juba stronghold
Middle Juba is widely viewed as one of Al-Shabaab’s core strongholds, with the militants long controlling or influencing most of the region, including towns such as Jilib, Bu’aale, and Saakow, according to security assessments.
Al-Shabaab, an Al-Qaeda-linked movement, has waged an insurgency against Somalia’s internationally backed government since the mid-2000s.
While African Union forces and Somali troops pushed the militants out of Mogadishu and other major towns, the group has retained sway over wide rural areas and continues to stage bombings and assaults in the capital and beyond.
Somalia’s campaign has intensified as the African Union reconfigured its peacekeeping support, replacing ATMIS with a successor stabilisation mission, AUSSOM, from January 2025 under UN-backed arrangements.
The shift has increased pressure on Somali forces to hold territory as partners focus on advising, training, and targeted support.
US support
Somalia frequently relies on foreign assistance for intelligence, surveillance, and air support. U.S. Africa Command has said it conducts strikes in coordination with the Somali government to degrade Al-Shabaab’s capacity and protect partner forces.
The Saakow operation comes as the Somali government steps up raids and airstrikes against the militants, often describing the actions as coordinated with international partners.
Earlier this month, the defence ministry said it killed 29 Al-Shabaab fighters in a separate operation backed by foreign support.
The defence ministry and army command said they would intensify counter-terrorism operations and strengthen efforts to safeguard public security, framing the latest strike as part of a sustained campaign to defeat Al-Shabaab.
The Somali government has repeatedly called the group the country’s most serious security threat, and U.S. lawmakers have described Al-Shabaab as the largest and most lethal Al-Qaeda affiliate, citing its ability to raise funds, recruit, and conduct complex attacks.