MIDDLE SHABELLE — Somali National Forces have successfully recaptured the strategic area of Hawadley in the Middle Shabelle region, a location that had previously served as a critical refuge and operational base for Al-Shabaab extremists.
Operation Badr Yields Strategic Gains
According to military officials, this significant achievement is part of the broader “Operation Badr,” a targeted military offensive launched during the holy month of Ramadan to systematically dismantle terrorist strongholds. The successful operation in Hawadley resulted in the complete destruction of multiple fortified positions and vital supply depots utilized by the militants, echoing recent SNA successes in destroying Khawaarij bases elsewhere in the region.
Government troops are now heavily focused on consolidating their control over the area. Concurrently, specialized units are continuing comprehensive efforts to track down any remaining fighters who fled the offensive and to sweep the newly freed zones for explosive threats, a standard clearance procedure utilized following recent Middle Shabelle operations.
Escalating the Anti-Terror Campaign
Defense authorities and the Somali Army Command emphasized that coordinated anti-terrorist operations, such as the recent liberation of key locations under the wider Operation Badr campaign, will continue to steadily escalate.
The federal government remains steadfast in its mandate to proactively protect civilian populations, permanently dismantle all remaining hideouts used by the militant group, and restore lasting stability across Somalia’s rural territories.
