Somalia Credits 220 Airstrikes Since February for Gains Against Al-Shabaab and ISIS  

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Somalia's Defence Minister Ahmed Moalim Fiqi says the country has made significant gains in the fight against Al-Shabaab militants for the last several months, noting the sacrifices made by security forces on various frontlines across the country.

Increased airstrikes and ground combats have weakened the group in various frontlines, he said, adding that a number of them have either died or surrendered to security forces, in what could prove to be a turning point in the battle against Al-Shabaab.

While presenting a report in the Senate over security matters, Fiqi said that with the support of international partners, Somalia has carried out 220 airstrikes in 2025, killing at least 868 al-Shabaab militants, including 52 senior commanders.

The operations, he told the Upper House, have helped secure the strategic corridor between Xarardheere and Mogadishu, an area long contested by the insurgents. The militants are retreating in key battlegrounds, he added.

“The Somali government continues to work closely with our international partners to strengthen the capability of our national forces through training, equipment, and coordinated air support,” Fiqi said. He described the militant group as “largely made up of foreigners seeking to destabilize our country.”

The US Africa Command and the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) Forces are credited with airstrikes in strategic areas. The AUSSOM forces have also been taking part in ground combat.

Financiers of the groups have not been spared either, with the government effectively tracking and arresting those responsible. General Odowaa Yusuf Rageh, the Somali National Army (SNA) boss, said training and equipping of a capable force is also underway.

The country is expected to assume full security responsibilities from the partner forces, but experts argue that the local forces are not fully ready. The government of Somalia has invested heavily in security operations.

GAROWE ONLINE