Somali Army Kills More Than 75 al-Shabaab Militants in South West State
Somali forces killed over 75 al-Shabaab militants and wounded 56 in a battle in the southwestern Bay region, Turkey's state-run news agency Anadolu Agency reported.
The Somali army has killed more than 75 al-Shabaab militants and wounded 56 others after the group attacked a military convoy transporting supplies between Leego and Burhakaba in Somalia’s South West State, Turkey’s state-run Anadolu Agency reported on Tuesday.
According to Somalia’s Defence Ministry, troops participating in Operation Banooda repelled the attack and successfully secured the convoy.
During the clashes, an explosives-laden vehicle driven by al-Shabaab militants detonated before reaching a Somali army position, the ministry said.
The ministry reaffirmed its commitment to continuing operations against al-Shabaab and targeting individuals who provide the group with support or shelter.
However, the reported casualty figures could not be independently verified.
The Somali government refers to al-Shabaab as “Khawaarij,” a term it uses to describe the al-Qaeda-linked militant group, which has been fighting Somali government forces and African Union peacekeepers since 2007.
The Somali army, supported by the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) and other international partners, has intensified its military operations against al-Shabaab since July.
In December 2025, the United Nations Security Council renewed AUSSOM’s mandate, extending its authorization until December 31, 2026.
Al-Shabaab, meaning “The Youth” in Arabic, is an Islamist extremist militant group that has waged an armed insurgency in Somalia since 2007.
The group has carried out numerous attacks targeting civilians, government forces and foreign troops. It is affiliated with al-Qaeda, the international terrorist organization, and remains a major security threat in Somalia and the wider East African region.