Kismayo (WDN) – Somalia’s elite DANAB Special Forces, backed by international partners, carried out a coordinated ground and air operation against Al-Shabaab positions in the Harboole area of Lower Jubba, dealing another blow to the militant group’s presence in southern Somalia.

According to military sources, the operation was led by the 162nd Unit of the 16th DANAB Commando Brigade and involved a carefully planned assault combining precision airstrikes with a ground offensive targeting known Al-Shabaab hideouts and operational bases.

International partners supporting Somalia’s counterterrorism campaign provided aerial support, conducting strikes against locations where Al-Shabaab fighters were believed to be sheltering and coordinating activities. Following the bombardment, DANAB forces advanced into the targeted area, entering caves, bunkers, and defensive positions used by the militants as safe havens.

Troops conducted extensive clearance and search operations to ensure that the targeted sites were fully neutralized and to assess the extent of the damage inflicted on the group.

Preliminary reports indicate that at least 11 Al-Shabaab fighters were killed during the operation. Military officials say assessments are still underway to determine the full extent of militant casualties and the destruction of infrastructure used by the group.

The latest operation forms part of Somalia’s ongoing military campaign to weaken Al-Shabaab’s operational capabilities and deny the group the ability to maintain safe havens in remote areas of the country. Despite years of military pressure, Al-Shabaab continues to exploit rural territories in southern and central Somalia to launch attacks against government forces, civilians, and strategic installations.

Security officials describe the Harboole operation as another example of the increasingly close coordination between Somali security forces and international partners in targeting the group’s leadership, logistics networks, and training facilities.

Military analysts note that sustained pressure through coordinated ground offensives and precision airstrikes has forced Al-Shabaab to abandon several long-held positions in recent years. However, they caution that the group remains resilient and capable of regrouping in difficult terrain unless military gains are followed by stabilization efforts, governance, and security consolidation.

The operation underscores the Somali government’s continued reliance on highly trained DANAB units, which have become one of the most effective components of the country’s counterinsurgency campaign. Supported by international intelligence, surveillance, and air assets, the force has played a central role in some of the most successful operations against Al-Shabaab strongholds.

As security operations intensify across southern Somalia, military commanders say the objective remains clear: dismantle Al-Shabaab’s remaining networks, restore government authority in contested areas, and strengthen security for local communities that have long lived under the threat of militant violence.

WardheerNews