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| Africa Horn |
| Somali Forces Repel Major Al-Shabaab Assault, Killing |
| 2025-09-15 |
| [Garowe] The Somali National Army (SNA) repulsed a major Al-Shabaab attack on Friday, leaving at least 60 militants dead and over 50 critically injured, in one of the most dramatic counterattacks within the country. The pre-dawn attack on Friday at El-Dheer District comes at a time the country is involved in various operations against Al-Shabaab, with a similar crackdown waged in Puntland state, where regional forces are fighting ISIS terrorists. Ahmed Moalim Fiqi, Somalia’s Defence Minister, hailed the soldiers for their remarkable dedication to defending the country, adding that the success against the group in El-Dheer marks a significant step towards eliminating the group. The enemy’s death toll has surpassed 60, with over 50 others wounded in the failed assault,” he said, adding that several militants were captured alive, reports SONNA. Among those killed were two senior al-Shabaab leaders, identified as Daadullah and Sabir, according to an official statement. Minister Fiqi said the militants were forced to retreat, leaving many of their dead behind, state media added. For the better part of Friday, the Somali National Army collected the bodies of Al-Shabaab militants around the town of Ceeldheer in the Galgaduud region, following heavy clashes. The terrorists attempted a surprise attack on the town but were met with a strong response from government forces. The SNA and allied local forces have continued operations up to 20 kilometers outside the district to pursue fleeing militants. The US Africa Command is working closely with the Somali National Army and other international partners in pursuit of stability in Somalia. SNA displays seized weapons, Al-Shabaab prisoners after deadly clash [ShabelleMedia] Somali army officers on Saturday presented weapons and two captured fighters from the militant group Al-Shabaab in the central town of Eldher, following heavy clashes that erupted there on Friday. The two prisoners, both adult men, appeared before reporters in hand restraints and with their heads covered. Military officials confirmed they were captured alive during the fighting and vowed to treat them humanely before handing them over to the military court. “They will be treated according to the law,” said a senior officer at the scene. The seized weapons and the prisoners were displayed in the presence of Colonel Mohamed Dhagaweyne, commander of the Somali National Army’s 21st Division, Commander Sahid Jama Farah Jareer of the elite Gorgor commando unit, and other military officials. During the same event, the army awarded a cash reward to a soldier who reportedly intercepted a vehicle packed with explosives that Al-Shabaab had planned to use in the assault on the central town. Officials described Friday’s assault as the largest attack on the town since its liberation from Al-Shabaab in 2022. The militant group has not publicly commented on the incident. Eldher, located in Somalia’s Galgaduud region, has seen increased military operations in recent months as government forces and allied militias intensify their campaign to oust Al-Shabaab from central Somalia. Rising Death Toll After Al-Shabaab Assault on Ceeldheer Town [ShabelleMedia] The death toll continues to rise following a fierce battle on Friday morning in Ceeldheer district, Galgaduud region, between Al-Shabaab militants and Somali government forces backed by local militia fighters. The Somali Federal Government announced that its forces had successfully repelled the large-scale Al-Shabaab attack, describing the outcome as a significant victory in the ongoing fight against the group. Ceeldheer district commissioner Abdirahman Ahmed Omar confirmed that dozens of militant bodies had been recovered on Saturday, bringing the total number of Al-Shabaab fighters killed to at least 71. |
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