MOGADISHU — Somali and African Union (AU) forces, operating alongside Ugandan troops, killed over 30 Al-Shabaab militants and wounded several others during a joint operation in southern Somalia on Thursday, according to a statement from the mission.
The operation, supported by international partners, involved coordinated air and ground strikes near the Bulunugaad forward operating base. The offensive aimed to target militant positions and diminish the group’s operational capacity in Lower Shabelle. The African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) reported that the strikes successfully disrupted local insurgent activities.
The engagement followed attacks by militants on Somali and AU forces who were pursuing Al-Shabaab fighters displaced from coastal towns during the Somali National Army-led “Operation Hidden Sword.” This offensive aligns with recent successes where army units captured Al-Shabaab storage facilities and dismantled militant hideouts in the region.
“AUSSOM and Somali forces remain dedicated to weakening Al-Shabaab and advancing lasting peace, stability, and security across the Horn of Africa,” the mission stated in a press release.
Al-Shabaab, linked to Al-Qaeda, has waged an insurgency against the Federal Government for more than 16 years, frequently targeting security forces and civilians. Since July 2025, Somali troops, backed by AUSSOM and other international partners, have intensified operations against the group, often relying on elite units like the Danab and Gorgor commandos to clear rural strongholds.
The mission’s presence was recently reaffirmed when the U.N. Security Council renewed its mandate in December 2025. The resolution, backed by the United Kingdom, extends the mission’s operations through December 31, 2026.
