Somali forces successfully made their way into Masaajid Ali Gaduud, which is roughly 175 km north of Mogadishu in the Middle Shabelle region, on Wednesday after Al-Shabaab militants left the town to unknown destinations.
According to HirShabelle security officials, the group’s withdrawal was an effort to avoid direct confrontation with the troops amid mounting military pressure from government forces operating in surrounding areas.
Masaajid Ali Gaduud was first recaptured from the Al-Qaeda-linked group during a major offensive in 2022 but fell back into militant hands in March 2025 — a setback that highlighted the persistent challenges facing Somali security operations.
The town’s peaceful takeover underscores continued efforts to erode Al-Shabaab’s grip on rural territories as Somali forces aim to consolidate control across Middle Shabelle.