On March 21, 2025, Somalia’s National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA), in collaboration with the Somali Air Force, conducted six airstrikes in the villages of Sabiid and Aanole in the Lower Shabelle region. These coordinated operations resulted in the elimination of 82 Al-Shabaab fighters and left 19 others injured.
Al-Shabaab, officially known as Harakat al-Shabaab Al-Mujahideen, is a Sunni Islamist militant group that pledged allegiance to Al-Qaeda in 2012. The group aims to overthrow the Somali Federal Government, expel foreign forces, and establish a fundamentalist Islamic state. Despite ongoing efforts by Somali and international forces, Al-Shabaab has maintained a significant presence in Somalia, often resorting to guerrilla tactics and terrorist attacks to further its objectives.
The recent operation in Lower Shabelle underscores the Somali government’s commitment to combating Al-Shabaab and stabilizing the region. Such decisive actions are part of a broader strategy to weaken the group’s operational capabilities and restore peace and security to affected areas.