Somali and U.S. forces carried out a joint helicopter and drone operation near Jilib, the main stronghold of al-Shabaab in southern Somalia, in what officials described as a key effort to disrupt the Islamist group’s leadership and operations.
- Somali and U.S. forces performed a targeted joint operation near Jilib, aiming to disrupt al-Shabaab leadership activities.
- The operation reportedly resulted in the deaths of key militants and a significant impact on al-Shabaab’s operational capabilities.
- Claims and reports regarding civilian casualties and effectiveness of the attack remain contested and unverifiable independently.
- This effort follows a series of operations intended to neutralize al-Shabaab leaders involved in significant threats.
U.S. and Somali forces launched an air strike on a militant stronghold in southern Somalia on Sunday, targeting Islamist fighters, Somali officials said.
The operation comes amid ongoing efforts to dismantle the network of senior al-Shabaab members, including explosives specialist Abdullahi Osman Mohamed, known as “Engineer Ismail,” who was reportedly killed in a previous joint operation.
According to Somali Guardian, the operation focused on Hargeisa Yarey village on the outskirts of Jilib, killing 15 militants and wounding eight.
Defence Minister Ahmed Moalim Fiqi described the raid as a “major blow” to al-Shabaab’s operational capabilities in the region. Al-Shabaab, however, disputed the claim, saying through its media channels that the attack had failed.
The group reported that one civilian was killed and several others wounded, including individuals affected by mortar fire.
Independent verification of casualties was not immediately available.
Follow-up Operations and Leadership Strikes
The Jilib raid follows another helicopter operation in Bula Fulay, a village in the Bay region of southwestern Somalia, earlier this month, where Somali forces said they struck militant positions and killed fighters, but al-Shabaab claimed its fighters had repelled the attack and that only civilians were affected.
The latest operations come after Somalia’s National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) said a joint mission with international partners killed Abdullahi Osman Mohamed, known as “Engineer Ismail,” in December 2025.
Osman, a senior al-Shabaab explosives specialist, was linked to some of the country’s deadliest attacks.
NISA said the raid neutralized Osman’s threat but did not provide details on casualties among Somali or partner forces, or whether additional militants were killed or captured.
Somali authorities have previously reported Osman dead on multiple occasions, only for him to reappear on the U.S. government’s list of wanted militants.
Al-Shabaab’s Continued Influence
Despite military operations, al-Shabaab remains entrenched in parts of southern and central Somalia, collecting taxes, operating courts, and enforcing its rule through coercion.
Somali authorities stress that dismantling the group’s bomb-making networks is critical to protecting civilians, government institutions, and key economic routes.
U.S. Attention and Regional Context
U.S. attention on Somalia and the wider Horn of Africa has featured in recent policy discussions in Washington, influenced by broader geopolitical considerations and domestic political controversies.
Among these are high‑profile fraud investigations in Minnesota that have drawn federal enforcement attention and ongoing debate in U.S. political circles over engagement with the self‑declared Republic of Somaliland.
The raids highlight Washington’s careful approach to counterterrorism in East Africa, in a region where insurgency, political tensions, and economic interests intersect.
