LEEGO — Somali National Army Danab commandos, specifically the 161st Unit, conducted a planned operation in the Leego area of Lower Shabelle region on Thursday, targeting an Al-Shabaab cell and disrupting plans to plant explosives along roads used by civilians.
The operation thwarted an Al-Shabaab plan to lay landmines on roads connecting Lower Shabelle and Bay regions in South West State, according to a statement from the Somali National Army Command.
The military statement said the forces also captured alive several of the men who had been planting the explosives, and that they are currently under investigation.
“During the operation, Danab forces also arrested members of a network involved in organizing and preparing explosive devices, who were planning to harm Somali civilians and people using the roads,” the statement read.
The Somali National Army said it is continuing operations to maintain security and dismantle Al-Shabaab networks that threaten civilians.
There has been no immediate statement from Al-Shabaab regarding the operation. Lower Shabelle region remains an area where the group maintains a strong presence and frequently launches attacks, often targeting military installations.
The Danab Commandos and Counter-IED Operations
The Danab commandos have been actively conducting clearance operations across the Lower Shabelle region, focusing on eliminating militant networks and ensuring the safety of civilians. Units from the elite Danab forces have carried out coordinated operations to maintain stability and prevent activities linked to extremist elements.
In a previous operation, the commandos captured a senior Al-Shabaab operative responsible for coordinating bomb attacks in the Lower Shabelle region, along with two associates, during a planned operation in the Dadumaay area. The captured leader was described as a key figure in the group’s bomb-making network.
The Danab commandos have also previously conducted a planned overnight operation in the Sablaale district of Lower Shabelle, killing seven militants, including a senior commander, and destroying training facilities used for extremist indoctrination.
The elite forces have also dismantled Al-Shabaab’s illegal tax collection networks across Lower Shabelle, conducting precise counter-terrorism operations and destroying fortified hideouts and tactical checkpoints that had long hindered local economic activity.
Critical Note
The operation in Leego reflects the continued reliance on the Danab commandos as the Somali National Army’s most effective unit for counter-insurgency operations in Lower Shabelle. The targeting of IED networks is a critical component of force protection and civilian safety, given that roadside bombs remain one of Al-Shabaab’s primary weapons.
The reported arrest of suspects alive, rather than their killing, is notable. Capturing operatives provides opportunities for intelligence gathering that can lead to the dismantling of broader networks. Whether that intelligence is effectively used, and whether the suspects are processed through a transparent legal system, will determine whether this tactical success contributes to longer-term security gains.
Lower Shabelle remains a contested region where Al-Shabaab continues to demonstrate its ability to operate despite sustained military pressure. The effectiveness of operations like the one in Leego will ultimately be measured by whether they reduce the frequency of attacks on civilian and military targets over time, not by individual successes in isolation.
