Kismayo (WDN) – Jubaland’s counterterrorism campaign has gained fresh momentum after security forces announced a series of successful operations that forced Al-Shabaab militants to abandon several strategic communities in Lower Juba, marking another significant victory in the region’s ongoing battle against the extremist group.

According to information released by Jubaland Media, forces from the Jubaland Intelligence and Security Agency (JISA) carried out coordinated security operations across Kulbiyow in Badhaadhe District, as well as a number of surrounding villages that had long been vulnerable to militant activity.

The operations extended across Hoola, Daldheer, Tulish, Goraa, Hariir, Jaara, and Jadeecaaley, where JISA units conducted intensive security sweeps, intelligence-led searches, and clearance missions aimed at rooting out remaining Al-Shabaab cells and restoring lasting security.

Security officials said the militants fled many of the targeted areas as government forces advanced, abandoning hideouts they had reportedly used to evade previous military operations. The rapid withdrawal was described as another indication of the sustained pressure being exerted by Jubaland’s security forces in recent months.

The latest offensive forms part of a broader campaign to dismantle Al-Shabaab’s operational network in southern Somalia by denying the group safe havens, disrupting its movement, and re-establishing government authority in rural communities that have endured years of insecurity.

Perhaps the clearest sign of the operation’s success came from local residents. Communities in Jadeecaaley and neighboring villages welcomed the advancing troops with enthusiasm, celebrating their arrival as a symbol of renewed hope after years of living under the constant threat of extremist violence.

Residents reportedly expressed relief that security forces had reached their communities, voicing optimism that the military presence would allow normal life to resume, revive local commerce, and enable families to move more freely without fear of militant intimidation.

Security analysts say such public support is crucial to sustaining long-term gains against Al-Shabaab. Military victories, they argue, become far more durable when they are accompanied by cooperation between local communities and security agencies, helping prevent militants from re-establishing hidden networks after government forces move on.

The latest advances underscore Jubaland’s determination to maintain relentless pressure on the insurgent group and expand security across strategically important areas of Lower Juba, a region that has long been at the center of Somalia’s fight against terrorism.

With operations continuing across the region, authorities say the objective is not merely to dislodge militants but to ensure they are unable to return, allowing communities to rebuild in an environment of greater peace and stability.

WardheerNews