Somali and United States forces launched a joint airstrike targeting Al-Shabaab militants in Adan Yabaal, a town situated about 220 kilometers (140 miles) north of Mogadishu, according to a statement released by the Somali government on Thursday.
The strike came in response to an assault on the strategic town, which serves as a critical base for Somali military operations.
Al-Shabaab fighters had launched a raid on the area, prompting a swift military reaction.
With concerns mounting over a possible resurgence of the Al-Qaeda-affiliated group, particularly following an attack on President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s convoy, the government’s latest offensive signals a continued effort to suppress militant activity that had previously been rolled back in recent years.
The Ministry of Information shared a post on X, “The targeted strike hit a site used by the militants as a gathering and hideout.” The statement added, “Preliminary reports indicate that 12…operatives, including senior leaders, were eliminated.”
The airstrike, carried out on Wednesday night by Somali troops in coordination with the U.S. Africa Command, “aimed to neutralize the threat posed” by Al-Shabaab, the ministry said.
Somali troops had recaptured Adan Yabaal from Al-Shabaab in December 2022 as part of a major offensive supported by African Union peacekeepers.
