Somali Forces Repel Al-Shabaab Attack on Danab Base in Wargaadhi

by: Horn Observer Contributor | 24 April 2025 13:07

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Somali Forces Repel Al-Shabaab Attack on Danab Base in Wargaadhi

MOGADISHU, Somalia (HORN OBSERVER) – Somali government forces, backed by local clan militias, have regained full control of Wargaadhi in the Middle Shabelle region following a pre-dawn attack by the Al-Shabaab militant group on Thursday.

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Al-Shabaab has claimed responsibility for the attack, stating that they briefly seized Wargaadhi—located approximately 189 kilometers north of Mogadishu—and destroyed the Danab base, killing several soldiers.

MOGADISHU, Somalia (HORN OBSERVER) – Somali government forces, backed by local clan militias, have regained full control of Wargaadhi in the Middle Shabelle region following a pre-dawn attack by the Al-Shabaab militant group on Thursday.

The attack targeted a military base used by the elite Danab special forces.

According to the Ministry of Defence, government troops temporarily withdrew from the area in a tactical move, allowing for a swift counteroffensive that successfully pushed back the militants.

"After regrouping, our forces launched a decisive response and dealt a significant blow to the enemy. Wargaadhi is now firmly under the control of the Somali National Army and local partners," said Defence Ministry spokesperson Abukar Moalim.

In a statement issued later by the Ministry of Information, officials confirmed that over 40 Al-Shabaab fighters were killed during a coordinated operation in Wargaadhi and the nearby area of Labigoley.

The government described the response as a "successful counterterrorism effort" aimed at neutralizing threats in the region.

Security officials have confirmed that the situation in Wargaadhi and surrounding areas has returned to normal, with government forces maintaining a strong presence on the ground.

Al-Shabaab, in a separate claim, said it had briefly taken control of the base, burned it down, and killed Danab soldiers.

However, those claims have not been independently verified, and the Somali government has not responded directly to the group’s statement.

Wargaadhi lies roughly 189 kilometers north of Mogadishu and has been a strategic location in the ongoing fight against the al-Qaeda-linked insurgency.

The government has pledged to continue its offensive against Al-Shabaab across the country as part of a broader national security campaign.