Baqdaadi, Somalia – Somali National Army’s elite Danab Commandos carried out a targeted operation overnight in the Baqdaad area of the Lower Shabelle region, dealing a significant blow to the operational capabilities of the militant group Al-Shabaab.
According to military sources, the operation was meticulously planned and aimed at disrupting Al-Shabaab’s logistical and tactical infrastructure along the Shabelle River corridor. During the raid, four boats used by the militants to transport supplies, conduct cross-river attacks, and execute covert movements were destroyed.
“These boats enabled the group to move freely between riverine areas, facilitating attacks and sustaining their networks. Their destruction is a major setback for the militants,” a military spokesperson said.
In addition to the boats, the Danab forces targeted and dismantled key Al-Shabaab facilities used for planning and staging operations. Hideouts and weapons storage sites believed to have been strategic points for the group’s activities in the region were also destroyed.
Security analysts say the operation demonstrates increased intelligence and coordination capabilities by Somali forces, particularly in disrupting Al-Shabaab’s river-based mobility and supply chains in Lower Shabelle—a region long considered a hotspot for insurgent activity.
The Somali National Army, backed by international partners, continues its nationwide offensive to weaken Al-Shabaab’s hold and restore government control in southern and central Somalia.
No casualties among the Danab forces were reported during the operation. Further assessments are ongoing to determine the full extent of the damage inflicted on the militant group.