Somalia Says 42 Al-Shabaab Fighters Killed in Airstrikes

by: Editorial Desk | 14 July 2026 16:25

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Somalia Says 42 Al-Shabaab Fighters Killed in Airstrikes

Beledweyne (Horn Observer + Lamaane.net) – The Somali National Army (SNA), supported by international partners, carried out airstrikes on Monday, July 13, targeting Al-Shabaab positions in Goobo village near Mahaas district in the Hiran region,

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A Somali National Army soldier stands in formation with fellow troops during a military gathering in Mogadishu. Government forces have stepped up operations targeting Al-Shabaab militants.

Beledweyne (Horn Observer + Lamaane.net) – The Somali National Army (SNA), supported by international partners, carried out airstrikes on Monday, July 13, targeting Al-Shabaab positions in Goobo village near Mahaas district in the Hiran region, killing 42 fighters and wounding 12 others, according to Somalia's Ministry of Defense.

The ministry said the operation took place on Monday evening in Goobo, approximately 10 kilometers north of Mahaas, where members of the armed group had reportedly regrouped after retreating from clashes earlier in the day in the Sullay and Waab-weyn areas. Military officials stated that the strikes also destroyed an armed vehicle, defensive positions, and temporary bases established by the group.

In a statement, the Ministry of Defense said the operation was conducted jointly by the Somali National Army and international security partners supporting Somalia's counterterrorism campaign. The ministry described the strikes as part of continuing efforts to disrupt Al-Shabaab's operational capacity and prevent the group from reorganizing following recent battlefield losses.

"The operation successfully targeted militants attempting to regroup after suffering setbacks during earlier engagements," the ministry said, adding that security forces remain focused on pursuing senior commanders and dismantling the group's remaining positions in the region.

Speaking to Lamaane News Network, a senior security official familiar with the operation said government forces were continuing assessments of the area following the strikes. "The objective was to deny the militants the opportunity to reorganize after withdrawing from previous fighting. Operations remain active, and security assessments are ongoing," the official said, speaking on condition of attribution because he was not authorized to discuss operational details publicly.

Residents in communities near Mahaas reported hearing multiple explosions during the evening, followed by increased military activity in the surrounding area. Local sources said access to some rural roads remained limited as security forces continued operations, although independent verification of conditions in the immediate strike zone was not possible.

The Ministry of Defense also commended the Somali National Army and the Ma'awisley militia—locally organized clan-based fighters who have mobilized to defend their areas against Al-Shabaab with support from the federal government—for their role in the broader military campaign. The ministry also expressed appreciation to Somalia's international partners for their continued assistance in counterterrorism operations.

Hiran has remained one of the principal theaters of Somalia's military campaign against Al-Shabaab, with government forces conducting sustained operations alongside Ma'awisley militia in recent months. The federal government says these operations are intended to weaken the group's command structure, reduce its ability to launch attacks, and improve security across central Somalia.

Military officers said the operation is part of a broader effort to deny Al-Shabaab safe havens by combining battlefield advances with targeted airstrikes against retreating and regrouping militants.

Source: Lamaane News Network (https://lamaane.net)

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Publisher Bio: Lamaane News Network (https://lamaane.net) is a Mogadishu-based independent digital news organization covering developments in Somalia, the Horn of Africa, and international affairs, with reporting in both Somali and English. Founded on December 9, 2015, it is committed to producing factual, balanced, and timely journalism in accordance with professional editorial and ethical standards.