MOGADISHU, Somalia – Somali special forces have destroyed several Al-Shabaab boats and key operational bases in an overnight raid in the country’s south, the government announced Tuesday, striking a blow to the militants’ logistical network in a strategic region.
The operation, carried out by the elite US-trained Danab “Lightning” Brigade, targeted insurgent positions in the village of Afgoye, located in the Lower Shabelle region, a volatile area on the outskirts of the capital, Mogadishu.
In a statement, the Federal Government of Somalia reported that its forces successfully dismantled four boats the Al-Qaeda-linked militants used to transport fighters and military supplies across the vital Shabelle River. The river is a critical lifeline and transport corridor that Al-Shabaab frequently exploits to evade government forces and stage attacks.
“The operation destroyed four boats that the Khawarij used to cross between riverine communities in the Shabelle regions to transport supplies and carry out destabilizing activities and surprise attacks,” the government statement read.
The operation underscores a persistent effort by Somali and international forces to disrupt Al-Shabaab’s operational capacity in a region crucial to both the country’s security and its economy.
Strategic blow to insurgent logistics
Beyond the destruction of the watercraft, the government said the raid also leveled key Al-Shabaab strongholds, including command posts and weapons caches.
“Key sites that the terrorists had in the area were destroyed, from which they used to organize attacks against the civilian population and local forces,” the statement continued. “Strategic locations that the Khawarij used for concealment and weapons storage were also targeted.”
The government did not release details on casualties. However, it framed the operation as a significant success in an ongoing, broader campaign to reclaim territory from the insurgents. Al-Shabaab, which controls swathes of rural southern and central Somalia, has not yet issued a comment on the government’s claims.
The Lower Shabelle region, a fertile agricultural belt that includes the strategic town of Afgoye, has long been a contested flashpoint. Its proximity to Mogadishu makes it a critical buffer zone, and control of its roads and river crossings are essential for securing the capital.
For years, Al-Shabaab has used the region as a staging ground for its devastating attacks on government, military, and civilian targets in Mogadishu. The group’s ability to move freely along the Shabelle River has been a persistent challenge for security forces.
This latest raid is part of an intensified offensive by the Somali National Army (SNA), often supported by local clan militias and African Union troops, aimed at degrading the militants’ capabilities ahead of a planned drawdown of international forces.
Elite forces and ideological warfare
The operation was spearheaded by the Danab Brigade, an elite commando force established and trained by the United States military. Considered the most effective unit within the SNA, the Danab Brigade is frequently deployed on high-stakes counter-terrorism missions that require precision and speed. Their involvement highlights the importance of the targets in the Baghdad village area.
The government’s statement consistently referred to the militants as “Khawarij,” an Arabic term meaning “deviants” or “those who have seceded.” The use of this term, which refers to an early extremist sect in Islamic history, is a key part of the government’s ideological campaign to discredit Al-Shabaab’s religious claims and strip them of legitimacy among the Somali population.
While government forces have celebrated a series of tactical victories in recent months, the conflict is far from over. Al-Shabaab has proven to be a resilient and adaptive insurgency, capable of withstanding major offensives and continuing to launch deadly attacks across the Horn of Africa nation.
The situation in Lower Shabelle remains tense, with security forces on high alert for potential retaliatory actions.