The Somali National Army (SNA), working alongside international security partners, has carried out a precision airstrike targeting suspected Al-Shabaab militants in the Lower Shabelle region, according to Somalia’s Ministry of Defence.
Officials said the operation took place in the Ugunji area, approximately 70 kilometres south-west of the capital, Mogadishu, after intelligence teams tracked what they described as a group of fighters regrouping in preparation for attacks on civilian and government targets.
In a statement, the ministry said the strike destroyed a militant staging site and killed six Al-Shabaab fighters. Military officials also reported the destruction of weapons, communications equipment and logistical supplies allegedly belonging to the group.
Authorities said no civilian casualties or damage to nearby property had been recorded during the operation.
The Somali government has intensified military operations against Al-Shabaab in recent years, often in coordination with international partners providing intelligence and air support. The militant group, which has waged an insurgency in Somalia for more than a decade, continues to carry out attacks targeting security forces, government institutions and civilians.
Senior military commanders said the latest operation formed part of a broader campaign aimed at disrupting militant assembly points and preventing planned assaults along key transport and economic routes.
The Ministry of Defence reiterated its commitment to continuing operations against what it described as “remaining extremist networks” across the country, with a focus on protecting rural communities and securing strategic infrastructure.
