(MENAFN) Somali, Ugandan, and African Union (AU) troops killed more than 30 al-Shabaab militants and wounded several others during a coordinated operation in southern Somalia on Thursday, according to reports from the AU peacekeeping mission.
The operation, supported by international partners, involved combined air and ground strikes near the Bulunagaad forward operating base. It targeted al-Shabaab positions to degrade the group’s operational capacity in the Lower Shabelle region, as stated by the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM).
The offensive followed attacks by al-Shabaab militants on Somali army and AUSSOM forces who were pursuing fighters previously driven out of coastal towns during the Somali-led Operation Hidden Sword.
The AU mission affirmed that the joint forces will continue coordinated efforts to diminish al-Shabaab’s capabilities and promote lasting peace, stability, and security across the Horn of Africa.
Al-Shabaab, an al-Qaeda-affiliated group active in southern and central Somalia, has been conducting an insurgency against the Somali government for more than 16 years, frequently targeting security forces, officials, and civilians.
Since July of last year, Somali forces, with support from AUSSOM and other international partners, have intensified operations against the militant group.
The AU mission’s mandate was renewed by the UN Security Council in December, with a UK-backed resolution extending its authorization through December 31, 2026.
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