US-Somalia air strikes kill Al-Shabaab jihadists in Adan Yabaal raid

Joint operations target Al-Shabaab strongholds, destroying weapons and killing key militant leaders in renewed offensive.

A Somali National Army soldier stands at attention during a morning briefing for trainee officers at the General Dhagabadan Training Centre in Mogadishu on March 19, 2024. Photo by Amaury Falt-Brown/AFP

By Anna Fadiah and Hayu Andini

Joint US-Somalia air strikes killed dozens of Al-Shabaab jihadists this week in a high-stakes military operation targeting the group's strongholds in the central and southwestern regions of Somalia. The air strikes, which hit strategic positions in Adan Yabaal and a ship carrying weapons, coincided with ground combat operations that also claimed the lives of several senior militant commanders. According to Somalia's information ministry, these US-Somalia air strikes kill Al-Shabaab jihadists as part of an ongoing offensive aimed at dismantling the extremist group’s operational infrastructure.

The renewed joint campaign comes amid growing concerns of a jihadist resurgence in Somalia, where the Al-Qaeda-linked group Al-Shabaab has stepped up attacks, including an attempted assassination of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud in March. While Somali forces regained key territories in 2022 and 2023 with African Union backing, the group's latest offensives signal that the battle is far from over.

The most significant blow came Wednesday night when Somali forces, working alongside the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM), launched an air strike on Adan Yabaal, a town located about 220 kilometers north of the capital Mogadishu. The town, which had served as a strategic command base for the Somali National Army, came under heavy attack by Al-Shabaab fighters who detonated vehicle-borne bombs before storming the area.

According to Somalia’s information ministry, the air strike targeted a location being used by the militants as both a hideout and staging ground. Preliminary assessments indicated that 12 fighters, including several senior operatives, were killed in the strike.

“The targeted strike hit a site used by the militants as a gathering and hideout,” the ministry stated on social media platform X. “Preliminary reports indicate that 12 Al-Shabaab operatives, including senior leaders, were eliminated.”

In a separate but related operation, a second air strike by US-Somalia forces destroyed two vessels—one of them an unflagged ship—in Somali territorial waters. These boats were reportedly transporting “modern weaponry” destined for Al-Shabaab. The strike resulted in the deaths of everyone aboard, according to the ministry’s statement.

This maritime strike is particularly significant as it points to Al-Shabaab’s persistent efforts to rearm despite their territorial losses. Targeting the group’s supply chain not only hampers its offensive capabilities but also sends a message that Somalia’s territorial waters are under closer scrutiny.

While aerial assaults played a vital role, ground combat remains central to the anti-Al-Shabaab strategy. In the early hours of Thursday, Somali forces and allied troops launched a counter-offensive near Baidoa in the country’s southwest after militants attempted to storm an army base.

“Acting on intelligence, the forces engaged the militants resulting in the deaths of 35 members, including a foreign commander leading the group,” the ministry confirmed.

The firefight highlights the operational synergy between Somali intelligence and tactical units, who have increasingly relied on real-time surveillance and international support to intercept Al-Shabaab incursions.

Al-Shabaab has waged a brutal insurgency against the Somali government for over 15 years. Though driven back significantly in recent years, the group appears to be recalibrating its strategies. Wednesday’s coordinated assault on Adan Yabaal began with vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices (VBIEDs), allowing fighters to breach military defenses and temporarily occupy parts of the town.

Despite official claims that government forces were pushing back the assault and reinforcing the area, local residents and Al-Shabaab itself claimed that the militants had seized control of the town. These claims, however, could not be independently verified by AFP or other media agencies.

The symbolic importance of Adan Yabaal cannot be understated. It was only in December 2022 that Somali government forces, with African Union peacekeeping support, managed to wrest control of the town from Al-Shabaab. The president himself visited Adan Yabaal earlier this year, underscoring its strategic and political significance.

Al-Shabaab has also shown renewed aggression in the capital. Earlier this month, the group launched multiple mortar attacks near Mogadishu's international airport, halting flights and briefly shaking public confidence in the city's security. Halane camp—a fortified complex that houses United Nations staff, humanitarian groups, and foreign diplomatic missions—was also targeted.

The group's reach has expanded to the Middle and Lower Shabelle regions, encompassing coastal zones both north and south of Mogadishu. In March, President Mohamud’s convoy narrowly avoided a bomb blast, underscoring the increasing risks even in relatively secure areas.

The frequency and scale of these attacks suggest that Al-Shabaab has retained the capacity to adapt, organize, and strike despite sustained pressure from Somali and international forces.

The fact that US-Somalia air strikes kill Al-Shabaab jihadists in significant numbers may not mark the end of the group’s campaign, but it does show that Somalia is leaning heavily on its partnerships to contain and eventually dismantle Al-Shabaab. The United States continues to play a vital role in providing air support, intelligence, and logistical coordination—critical assets in a region plagued by rugged terrain and limited infrastructure.

Moreover, the Somali government appears more assertive in confronting not only militant fighters on the battlefield but also the broader logistics networks that support them. From supply vessels in coastal waters to hidden encampments in the bush, no location is off-limits in this campaign.

President Mohamud has repeatedly emphasized that the fight against Al-Shabaab is a generational struggle. The government’s ability to retake towns like Adan Yabaal, secure borders, and prevent further infiltration into urban centers will determine whether this renewed push will lead to long-term peace or simply a temporary pause in hostilities.

While Al-Shabaab remains a formidable force capable of striking high-value targets and destabilizing regions across Somalia, the latest US-Somalia joint operations show that the government is fighting back with renewed vigor and international backing. These US-Somalia air strikes kill Al-Shabaab jihadists and destroy critical supply lines, marking a significant moment in the ongoing war against extremism in the Horn of Africa.

With dozens of fighters eliminated and key supply routes disrupted, the message is clear: the Somali government, alongside its international partners, is prepared to confront and degrade Al-Shabaab at every level. Still, the path to peace will require consistent military pressure, political unity, and sustained international cooperation.

Share