U.S.-trained Commandos Target Al-Shabaab Hideouts in Southern Somalia

BAIDOA, Somalia — Somalia’s Danab special forces killed 14 members of the Al-Shabaab militant group during a planned operation in the Bula Fulaay area of Bay region on Saturday, the Somali military said.

The operation targeted positions that the militants had allegedly established secretly in the area and were using to organise and plan attacks in nearby locations, according to a statement from the Somali armed forces command.

The military said its forces also recovered a large quantity of weapons from the positions targeted during the operation.

Images and reports linked to the operation showed soldiers at the scene alongside the bodies of some of the militants reportedly killed in the fighting.

The operation is part of a series of planned military missions carried out by Danab forces in Bay region to target Al-Shabaab positions and hideouts.

The elite Somali unit has been involved in offensive operations against Al-Shabaab as government forces seek to weaken the group's presence in central and southern Somalia.

Bay is among the regions where Al-Shabaab has maintained a significant presence, despite sustained military operations by Somali forces and their international partners.

The group has continued to carry out attacks and maintain clandestine positions in rural areas, using them to organise operations against government forces and civilian targets.

The latest operation comes as Somalia continues efforts to increase the role of its own security forces in combating armed groups and gradually reduce reliance on foreign military support.

The Somali government has said strengthening specialised units such as Danab is central to its strategy to regain control of areas held or contested by Al-Shabaab.

However, the military did not provide details on the number of troops involved in Saturday's operation or whether any militants escaped from the targeted positions.

There were also no immediate reports from the military on casualties among Somali forces or civilians.

The reported militant death toll could not be independently verified, and Al-Shabaab had not immediately issued a statement on the operation.

Bay region has frequently been the scene of military operations, air strikes and clashes involving Somali government forces, local fighters and international partners targeting Al-Shabaab.

The group remains one of the most significant security threats in Somalia and has carried out deadly attacks despite years of military campaigns aimed at dismantling its networks.

Somali authorities have pledged to maintain pressure on the militants through coordinated ground operations, intelligence-led missions and support from international partners.

Saturday's operation highlights the continuing military campaign in Bay as government forces seek to disrupt Al-Shabaab's operational networks and prevent attacks in surrounding communities.

GAROWE ONLINE